The First Short Track World Cup Begins in Beijing!
The nominees for the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team for Short Track Speedskating traveled to China this week to participate in the first of four world cup events. The new ISU World Cup format consists of four days of competition with the first two days being set aside for preliminaries and heats.
During the first day of competition, Katherine Reutter (Champaign, IL), Kimberly Derrick (Memphis, TN) and Allison Baver (Sinking Spring, PA) made it through the first rounds of the Ladies 1500m and will be skating in the quarterfinals on September 19. Both Reutter and Baver won their heats in this first race and Reutter is currently first in the 1500m distance classification. This is Baver’s first World Cup competition since breaking her leg in Bulgaria in February. Teammate Alyson Dudek (Hales Corners, WI) earned a spot in the quarterfinals of the Ladies 500m.
The U.S. Men’s team also put in some great performances in the opening rounds of the Men’s 1500m. Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, WA) and Jeff Simon (Las Vegas, NV) each won their heats in the event and will be skating in the 1500m quarterfinals along with Jordan Malone (Denton, TX). Simon and Anthony Lobello (Tallahassee, FL) took first place in their heats in the Men’s 500m and will compete along with Simon Cho (Laurel, MD) in the quarterfinals.
Competition continues on Friday with preliminaries and heats in the Men’s and Ladies 1000m and relay, along with the Ladies 3000m Relay Semifinals and the Men’s 5000m Relay Quarterfinals. Lana Gehring (Glenview, IL), Jessica Smith (Melvindale, MI) and Travis Jayner (Midland, MI) are also competing at this first World Cup event.
Olympic Team nominee J.R. Celski (Federal Way, WA) did not travel to Asia after being injured at the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Short Track Speedskating. Celski underwent surgery in Marquette, Michigan and is consulting with five-time Olympic Gold Medalist and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Eric Heiden. Celski will undergo rehabilitation in Colorado Springs.