• Speedy Peterson Returns to World Cup Podium  - Lake Placid, NY (Jan. 18) - Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (Boise, ID) notched the seventh World Cup victory of his career as he won the 2009 Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge aerials competition in Lake Placid Sunday. Teammate Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) joined Peterson on the podium finishing third, her fourth career podium.
  
  "This is something I am really excited about, mostly because I had taken a year and a half off and I always had that second thought of whether it was a good idea or not," Peterson said. "This definitely eases my mind and brings my confidence back up."
  
  Peterson's last win came at Deer Valley Resort in Park City two years ago where he won back-to-back aerial World Cups and set a record for the highest score received for his trick "the hurricane." In Placid, Peterson made a full, double full, full (three flips including a full twist, double twist, full twist) for his first jump, then a double full, full, full (three flips including a double twist, a full twist and a full twist) for his second.
  
  "Those jumps were close to perfection. It was a very high scoring event for him," Aerials Head Coach Matt Christensen said. "We're not looking at the win as much as we are perfect jumps and obviously when you get that from these athletes the results are there. He's jumping well. Everything has come together."
  
  Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO) finished fifth.
  
  According to Peterson, prior to Sunday's competition things weren't clicking. But on game day, he could do no wrong.
  
  "I had a lot of things I was working on this week and it wasn't all clicking together. But something happened today and my jumping was on fire. Everything was going just the way I wanted it to go," Peterson said.
  
  With a season of World Cups and the 2009 World Championships in his sights, Peterson is happy to have a level of confidence that he believes will carry him far.
  
  "Confidence was something I was struggling with at the season's first World Cup in China. It had been so long since I had been in the gate," Peterson said. "But I felt great this week. I had the confidence that I needed and everything was just clicking.
  It definitely builds the confidence and I hope to continue from there."
  
  Cook landed a full, double full (two flips including a full twist and a double twist) and a double full, full (two flips including a double twist and a full twist) and says competing her planned 2010 Olympic package for the first time was great.
  
  "I am super excited, especially because it was my first time competing the double full, full full. It's the trick that I am planning on competing at the Olympics, so it's just awesome," Cook said. "It's a new trick for me just this week and training was a little bit shaky. My coaches did a great job working with me. I don't know if I have ever been so excited in my career to have a jump like that."
  
  Jana Lindsey (Black Hawk, SD) followed Cook in fifth, tying her career best.
  
  According to Christensen, Cook's willingness to get back on the horse is what puts her ahead of the pack.
  
  "She had a crash where she landed backwards on this new jump two days ago, so we got her back up and made her do another one. aIt was huge and that brought her back in to a good state," Christensen said. "It just shows how much of a winner she is that she's able to come back and do that. She went up there, got it done and got on the podium this weekend."
  
  With a podium under her belt after throwing two new jumps for the first time, Cook is looking forward to what future competitions hold for her.
  
  "It's all about preparation and momentum. We are aiming to peak at Worlds and especially next year in Vancouver," Cook said. "Basically putting down the two jumps that I plan on competing at worlds and in Vancouver and being on the podium the first week that I compete them was just really exciting. Now we are building and being on the podium builds momentum for the future."
  
  For Christensen, the jumping venue was excellent and thee Team couldn't have asked for more in Placid.
  
  "The jump site at Lake Placid is the best it has ever been in the 20 years I have been involved in this sport," Christensen said. "ORDA (Olympic Regional Development Authority) as well as the organizing committee did an amazing job here."
  
  The Team next competes in Mont Gabriel, BC, Jan. 24-25 before heading to Utah for the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort Jan. 29-31.
  
  OFFICIAL RESULTS
  2009 FREESTYLE FIS WORLD CUP
  2009 Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge
  Lake Placid, NY - Jan. 18, 2009
  Aerials
  
  Men
  1. Jeret Peterson, Boise, ID, 252.59
  2. Kyle Nissen, Canada, 244.92
  3. Warren Shouldice, Canada, 243.03
  4. Andreas Isoz, Switzerland, 241.50
  5. Ryan St. Onge, Winter Park, CO, 236.89
  -
  12. Scotty Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 200.18
  17. Dylan Ferguson, Amesbury, MA, 100.22
  21. Matt DePeters, Hamburg, NY, 88.73
  
  Women
  1. Alla Tsuper, Belarus, 189.98
  2. Mengtao XU, China, 186.11
  3. Emily Cook, Belmont, MA, 184.70
  4. Xin Zhang, China, 183.64
  5. Jana Lindsey, Black Hawk, SD, 178.05
  -
  18. Lacy Schnoor, Draper, UT, 74.65
  # # #
   

• Hedrick & Reutter Claim National Championships Titles

  Hedrick wins Long Track Nationals...read it here

Reutter wins Short Track  - Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, Monday, December 22, 2008 - Katherine Reutter fought off the residuals of Saturday's spill to successfully defend her title in the U.S. Short Track Championships on the final day of competition Sunday at Hardee's Iceplex. After being disqualified in the 500 meters Saturday, she dropped to second place, nearly 500 points behind Kimberly Derrick of Caledonia, Mich.

"I was really stressed about that," Reutter said. "I knew I couldn't afford even second place today."

The race for the women's title tightened in the 1,000 meters when Reutter edged Derrick, winning in 1 minute, 32.885 seconds. Reutter tucked into second at the start and stayed there through seven of the nine laps, then moved on the inside past Derrick and held her off for the final two laps. Reutter regained the lead with a victory in the 3,000 meters in 5:08.576. She smartly picked up an extra 150 points for being the leader on the ninth lap of the 27-lap race, a carrot that race organizers include as incentive to keep the pace lively for the longest of the meet's individual events. She took the lead for keeps with four laps remaining, slipping past two-time Olympian Allison Baver on the inside, then holding off Baver and Derrick, in that order.

• 2010 Olympic Preview - With the Beijing Games complete, America's winter Olympians are actively gearing up for the Vancouver 2010 Games - now only 17 months away.  The Q Sports 2010 Olympic Preview includes profiles our winter clients - 17 athletes who have combined to win 18 Olympic medals - as well as an overview of our company and case study samples of our work leading into Beijing.
   
  Q Sports Marketing was founded on a tradition of winter sports excellence, a tradition our snow and ice athletes are poised, and anxious, to continue in Vancouver.  Returning 3-time Olympic medalist Chad Hedrick (speedskating) will lead the charge back to the podium.  '06 silver medalists Shauna Rohbock & Valerie Fleming (bobsled), who seldom miss a World Cup podium, are fixated on gold.  Skeleton athletes Zach Lund and Eric Bernotas, who currently hold four different track records between them, have clearly established themselves as two of the fastest sliders in the world...the question is, 'Who's faster?'  Luge athlete Mark Grimmette is prepping for his fifth Olympic Games, seeking to add gold to his existing silver and bronze collection.  After shattering a world record and winning five World Cup medals last year, short-tracker Katherine Reutter is now regularly drawing comparisons to one of America's all-time Olympic icons, Bonnie Blair.  Reutter threatens to be a break-out star in Vancouver.  These are just some of the champion athletes Q Sports has assembled who will lead Team USA in Vancouver 2010.
   
   To receive a copy of our of 2010 Winter Olympic Preview  send an email request here (size 8MB, .PDF or .PPT format available).

   

• International boarders hit the powder in Cardrona

   Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:33p.m.  - Watch the video here

  The best boarders in the world hit the half-pipe on the slopes of Cardrona, New Zealand over the weekend for the opening round of the FIS World Cup.

  Canadian Crispin Lipscomb was right at home on the on the mountain, having been the coach of the New Zealand Junior Snowboard team in the off season.

  "This is a local hill for me," Lipscomb says. "I've been coming here for nine years. I used to spend more time here then I did in Canada."

  Making the most of his local knowledge, the former World Cup medallist finished third in the half-pipe which he rates as one of the best in the world.

  But it was a Japanese pair who set the bar, with Shiho Nakashima winning the women's event and Kohhei Kudoh first in the men's.

  The World Cup now heads to Argentina this weekend for the Bordercross event.

  ---

• Preparation Pays Off for an American Lifter

   
  By GREG BISHOP New York Times
  Published: August 10, 2008

  BEIJING — The coach for the weight lifter Melanie Roach noticed she had been unusually quiet the past two weeks, even as her long Olympic quest was nearing its end. She was staring into space, appearing to be deep in thought.

  Melanie Roach set an American record with a combined lift of 193 kilograms.

  Roach said she spent that time thinking back on the past 14 years — on her husband’s rise in Washington State politics, on their autistic son and two other children, on the family’s gymnastics business, on her back troubles, on her comeback, and on how her smiling image had ended up on a McDonald’s cup.

  “No wonder she didn’t say much,” her coach, John Thrush, said.

  Thrush said he never doubted that Roach would end up here, at the Beijing Olympics, where she finished sixth in the 53-kilogram (117-pound) weight class and set an American record with a combined lift of 193 kilograms, or about 425 pounds.

  Even when back pain forced Roach into bed for days, even after she had helped build a family, even after she had nearly retired, her coach never doubted her. He could feel this day, this moment, deep inside.

  So many had sacrificed for her to be here, and many of them sat in the stands at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium, wearing light-blue Team Roach T-shirts.

  Roach’s husband, Dan, clung to a pair of binoculars. Her oldest son, Ethan, wore his lucky beaded necklace. Several others sat behind — Roach’s mother, mother-in-law, coach, chiropractor, lifting partner. Even a friend from Zimbabwe’s swim team, who trained near Roach in the Seattle area, stopped by to say hello.

  Roach spent the past two weeks away from her family, more time than she ever had before. She needed “kid time” on Saturday, so she summoned Dan and Ethan to the athletes’ village, where they spent a few hours simply hanging out.

  Finally, she was ready. Thrush had sent an e-mail message to a reporter earlier in the week, noting: “She IS SO prepared it’s unreal.”

  Dan and Ethan had visited a part of China near Chengdu, an area crushed by the recent earthquake. Their mission demonstrated the art of balance long perfected by the Roach family. They went with friends from Children’s Hope International and saw entire villages torn apart. The devastation hit Dan Roach in ways he never imagined.

  “A life-changing trip,” he said.

  Followed by a life-changing event Sunday.

  Over the years, Roach has gone from a fast-rising weight-lifting star to the first American woman to lift double her body weight to a lifter with severe back trouble to a success story. Her chiropractor, Greg Summers, called her back problems the worst he had seen.

  Then came an experimental operation, followed by the comeback, followed by more attention than any family from a small town in Washington could reasonably expect. Roach garnered national attention — and that McDonald’s cup — with her story.

  Thousands of e-mail messages poured in. They came from people with back pain, from parents with autistic children, from the owners of small businesses who struggled to manage their time. Each offered inspiration.

  By Sunday, all that was left to do was lift. Roach made all six of her attempts spread over two events — the snatch and the clean-and-jerk. She set a personal competition record with an 83-kilogram snatch (about 183 pounds). After that, her husband stood, pumped his fist and asked rhetorically, “Great place to do a personal record, huh?”

  After each lift, Roach threw down the bar in elation and sauntered off the stage with a fist-pumping swagger.

  “It was the culmination of 14 years,” she said. “Definitely worth the wait.”

  The question now is where she will go from here. The family recently moved the gymnastics business to a 10,700-square-foot palace. Dan, an incumbent Republican state representative, is up for re-election in November.

  Thrush and the rest of the Team Roach coaches continue to remind her that she had only recently experienced uninterrupted training for the first time and had just broken almost all of her personal records.

  Imagine what she could do, Thrush wondered, in the next year.

  Roach recently set off alarms by telling her husband she wanted to take all the children with her to the next Olympics. Immediately, he turned to her with a look that said, “You’re considering another Olympics?”

  “It’s funny,” Roach said. “I’m just finally now making personal records, but I have a husband and kids to think of. I’ve been a pretty selfish mom and a very unselfish athlete for years now, and it’s time to put my family first.”

  She will consider it, though, despite being the third-oldest women’s weight lifter here, at 33.

  First, the family will visit the Great Wall and an orphanage, where Dan said he hoped his wife would not “get any ideas.” Then they will return to the organized chaos of their life and the craziness of election season.

  “I’m still absorbing, trying to get a handle on if all this is really happening,” Dan Roach said. “When we finally get some time alone, I’m going to give her a big hug and tell her: ‘You did it. We did it. We all did it.’ ”

  Someone suggested Dan should run for governor soon.

  “My wife,” he said, “would be the logical choice.”

   
• Barcelona 2008 Women's Open - March 31, 2008 - Americans win SWATCH gold medal with Samaranch watching

  Barcelona, Spain, May 31, 2008 - With former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch in attendance for the SWATCH FIVB World Tour women's finale here Saturday at the Placa Carles Buigas, Americans Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs completed "a remarkable comeback" to capture the gold medal at the US$350,000 Hyundai Open Barcelona on the steps in front of the National Museum of Art of Catalunya.

  Samaranch and FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta have been credited with gaining support for Beach Volleyball to be introduced at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.  After the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games, the first women's SWATCH FIVB World Tour was played in Spain at Almeria as a post-Olympic demonstration sport.

  With their 21-18 and 21-14 win in 40 minutes over fourth-seeded Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro, the second-seeded Branagh and Youngs successfully rebounded from an opening day defeat to a team from Cuba to win five-straight elimination matches to reach the semi-finals where the Americans defeated two teams from Brazil.

  In addition to becoming only the second team to bounce back from a setback in the second-round of the loser's bracket to win a SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medal, Branagh and Youngs shared the $28,000 first-place check along with improving their standing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games where the Americans are currently ranked sixth with 4,120 points for their best eight international finishes since may 2007.  Branagh also had seven of the top eight serves in the Hyundai Open Barcelona with her best SWATCH service being 82.1 km/h.

  With no women's team ever winning a 32-team, double-elimination FIVB event after losing in the first round, Brazilians Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar accomplished the five-straight contender's bracket feat at the 1999 SWATCH FIVB World Championships in Marseille, France.  Youngs placed third in the July event with Liz Masakayan, who is now coaching her former partner.

  While Branagh was named the SWATCH most outstanding player for the inaugural Hyundai Open Barcelona, Youngs became the oldest women to win an "open" FIVB event.  At 38 years, three months and 16 days, Youngs surpassed the previous mark set in July 1998 at a SWATCH FIVB World Tour stop in Portugal by compatriot Linda Hanley (38 years, one month, 25 days).

  After losing 17-21, 21-12 and 15-7 to 15th-seeded Milagros Crespo and Imara Esteves Ribalta of Cuba on Wednesday, Branagh and Youngs won their last seven matches to net their first SWATCH FIVB World Tour title in their 15th international event together.  While Branagh was capturing her first SWATCH title, Youngs was advancing to the top of a FIVB podium for the 12th time with her fourth different partner.

  "Right now I am feeling great," said Youngs, who captured the bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games with Holly McPeak.  "I know tomorrow when we travel back to the United States we'll feel the pain of playing nine matches in four days.  This is a great victory for us, especially since these points are very important for qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.  The difference today was our service game along with keeping the pressure on the Brazilians through the match.  Our goal was to win one point at a time and never let up."

  Youngs' last SWATCH title came in 2004 with McPeak in Norway as three Americans teams filled the Stavanger podium.  Six of Youngs' FIVB titles were with McPeak, three gold medals with Masakayan and two crowns with Barbra Fontana, who was Hanley's partner at the 1998 Espinho event.

  Four of Branagh and Youngs' wins this week were over teams from Brazil, including a 22-20, 14-21 and 15-13 victory in 62 minutes over top-seeded Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca.  The Americans are now 3-1 in SWATCH matches against Renata and Talita, who shared the $19,500 second-place prize.

  Sunday's finale was the 72nd-time Brazil and the United States have competed for a SWATCH FIVB World Tour women's gold medal.  The Americans now lead the gold medal series 43-29.  While Talita and Renata are 0-2 in title meetings with Americans for the top spot on a FIVB podium, Youngs is 3-4 in SWATCH gold medal matches against teams from the South American country.

  In the bronze-medal match, Juliana and Larissa won their fourth medal in five SWATCH starts this season by defeating seventh-seeded Vassiliki Arvaniti and Vasso Karadassiou of Greece 21-14 and 21-14 in 36 minutes.  FIVB winners in Australia and Japan this season, Juliana and Larissa shared $14,000 for third-place with the Greeks splitting $10,500 for their first "final four" appearance this season.

  Following the Hyundai Open Barcelona competition where the men's title will be decided Sunday, the second of seventh-straight SWATCH FIVB World Tour double gender events will be staged at a Polish resort of Stare Jablonki starting Monday.  The first four of six FIVB Grand Slam events will be held after Poland in Berlin, Paris, Stavanger and Norway.

• Elaine Youngs - U.S. Teams Win Bronze Medals
  By B.J. Hoeptner Evans // USA Volleyball // May 19, 2008 

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 18, 2008) – Bronze was the look for the U.S. beach volleyball teams of Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs and also Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers at SWATCH FIVB World Tour events on Sunday.
  
  On a rainy Sunday in Seoul, Korea, second-seeded Branagh (Orinda, Calif.) and Elaine Youngs (El Toro, Calif.) of the United States scored a 2-1 (21-19, 13-21, 15-7) victory in 49 minutes over top-seeded Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil. Branagh and Youngs shared the $14,000 third-place prize and points toward Olympic qualifying.
  
  Branagh and Youngs are second among U.S. women’s beach teams trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games. The United States will send two teams to Beijing.
  
  The victory was also the Americans’ first victory over Juliana and Larissa in four SWATCH meetings.
  
  Branagh and Youngs advanced to the bronze-medal match with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) victory over countrywomen Tyra Turner (Fort Meyers Beach, Fla.) and Rachel Wacholder (Laguna Beach, Calif.), seeded 13th, who finished the tournament tied for fifth.
  
  Juliana and Larissa advanced by defeating the U.S. team of Jen Boss (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and April Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.), who also tied for fifth.
  
  In the gold-medal match, Chen Xue and Xi Zhang captured their third SWATCH FIVB World Tour title by defeating Brazilians Shelda Bede and Ana Paula Connelly on the wet centre court sand at the Han River Jamsil Citizen Park.
  
  In the men’s SWATCH FIVB World Tour event in Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy, top-seeded Dalhausser (Ormond Beach, Fla.) and Rogers (Santa Barbara, Calif.) defeated second-seeded Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos, the reigning Olympic champions, in the bronze-medal match, 24-22, 26-24 in 63 minutes to share the $14,000 third-place prize.
  
  Dalhausser and Rogers lead the U.S. men in Olympic qualifying points.
  
  In the gold-medal match, third-seeded Brazilians Harley Marques and Pedro Salgado teamed to win for the fifth-time in their last seven international events by posting a 2-1 (20-22, 21-18, 15-8) win over 11th-seeded Julius Brink and Christoph Dieckmann of Germany in 62 minutes.
  
  Brink and Dieckmann were responsible for sending the U.S. team of Matt Fuerbringer (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Casey Jennings (Las Vegas, Nev.), seeded 20th, packing after defeating them 2-0 (24-22, 21-19) in the seventh-place match.
  
  The three U.S. women’s teams are scheduled to play next weekend at the SWATCH FIVB World Tour event in Osaka, Japan while Jake Gibb (Bountiful, Utah) and Sean Rosenthal (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Fuerbringer-Jennings and Stein Metzger (Honolulu, Hawai’i) and Mark Williams (Los Angeles, Calif.) are schedule to play in Zagreb, Croatia.
  
  Complete results and photos are available on the FIVB beach Web site at www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/index.asp.
   

   

• Roach Solidifies Olympic Dream

  May 17, 2008

  ATLANTA, GA  - On Saturday afternoon, with 228.8 lbs. pressed decisively overhead of her 117 lbs. frame, Melanie Roach knew that she was no longer a long time Olympic hopeful.  In that moment, she had capped a remarkable physical, emotional and spiritual comeback story that has earned her the elite right to now be referred to as Melanie Roach - Olympian.    
   
  "Once I got 104 (kilos, 228.8 lbs.) I knew that was it, that would be good enough to do it. I think it's going to take a while for it to really set in.  It's hard to explain, but I feel like today was more about an opportunity for me to say thank you to all of the people who made this moment possible. I've taken such great joy out of the journey already, I feel like the years of preparation have been a blessing in my life that I'm fortunate to have had, but I know that it couldn't have worked, this wouldn't have happened without enormous support from so many people.  I feel like making this team was a way for me to say to all of those people, thank you and we did it!"    - Melanie Roach
   
  Roach's emotional Saturday afternoon was preceded on Friday evening by ABC World News anchor Charlie Gibson's nationally broadcast good luck wish to her and selection of Roach as the ABC News Person of the Week.  

   Watch the TV broadcast here...

  For the millions of people who have ever suffered the agony of even a minor back injury, Roach's physical accomplishment is particularly astounding.  Eight years ago her Olympic dreams were derailed by a serious spine injury that appeared to have ended her career.  A state of the art surgery, known as microdiscectomy, performed at LA's D.I.S.C. Spine and Sports Center in 2006 revived her career and has left her as America's number one ranked weightlifter heading in to Beijing. 
   

   

  "There are a lot of people, on a long list, who made this day possible for me but one who stands out is Dr. Bray.  If not for him, and his understanding that I was just not ready to give up, this day never would have happened."  ~MR 
   
  For the nearly 1.5 million American families coping with autism, the Roach family, whose middle son Drew (5) is autistic, is a distinct light of inspiration.  At the insistence of his mother, Drew took his first plane trip, across the country from Bonney Lake, WA, to join his father (Dan), sister (Camille - 2), brother (Ethan - 6) and an enormous collection of Team Roach fans to watch his mom become an Olympian.
   
  "I wanted Drew, my children, my husband...everyone to be here for this moment.  We've had our share of challenges as a family, it's a wonderful blessing to be able to share a family triumph." ~MR
   
  For countless mothers across the country Melanie's story of personal dreams, motherhood and strength of family has proven to be a resonating inspiration in the wake of her growing media attention.  
   
  From: xxxxxxxxx@hotmail.com
  To: roachgymnastics@hotmail.com
  Subject: Good Luck in Olympic Quest!
  Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 16:07:03 -0700
  
  Hello Melanie and family
  
  I don't think I have ever sent a random e-mail like this-but was so touched by your amazing story in the New York Times (and the online video). I just wanted to say how inspiring you are to "regular" moms like me. Your patience and strength, especially with your boy Drew, are amazing. I am sure there are challenging and heartbreaking moments but really, your approach and your strong marriage are just uplifting to see (pun intended!) 
  
  I am e-mailing this story to many mom-friends to be inspired also. Please know we are rooting for you in your Olympic quest and rooting for your family in life.
  
  Best Wishes!
  Trish xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  (Richmond, California)     
   
   
  Olympian Melanie Roach

  will compete at the

  2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China

  on Sunday, August 10th.

• Finding Inner Strength - New York Times

  By GREG BISHOP

  Published: May 6, 2008

  SUMNER, Wash. — Melanie Roach is a former gymnast who owns a gymnastics facility. Her husband is a state legislator. At 33, she is the mother of three young children, including 5-year-old Drew, who is autistic. And she can lift 238 pounds over her head.

  All of which makes her one of America’s most unlikely Olympic hopefuls.

  For a start, Roach, who is 5 feet 1 inch and 117 pounds, looks nothing like a weight lifter. She was a gymnast until 10 years ago, when she left behind a middling career, took up weight lifting and in 1998 set an unofficial world record by lifting twice her body weight, a first for an American woman.

  But she hyperextended her right elbow four months before the world championships in 1999 and had a herniated disk in her back eight weeks before the Olympic trials in 2000. She attempted to compete despite the injury, only to end up crying in the stands.

  The back injury bothered her for seven years — through three pregnancies and three times as many comeback attempts.

  “She rose to greatness so quickly, and then all of a sudden it was over,” said Roach’s training partner Alexis Reed. “You almost asked yourself, a year or two later, ‘Did that really happen?’ ”

  The problems she encountered in competition were nothing compared with the challenge she confronted with Drew after his autism was diagnosed in 2005. Roach said she was preoccupied with everything he would never be able to do — school dances, church missions, college classes. He did not have bad days; he had bad weeks, bad months, filled with relentless tantrums.

  “It was literally in a week my life changed,” Roach said. “I went into depression. I went through a mourning process. Almost like I lost a child.”

  She said she would kneel at his bedside every night, praying he would get better.

  In December 2005, Roach, a Mormon, went to see her bishop. “This is not what I signed up for,” she said.

  “This is exactly what you signed up for,” he replied. That message not only changed her outlook about Drew, it changed her outlook about weight lifting.

  “She learned that no matter how much money and time she put into it, she couldn’t change the outcome,” said her husband, Dan. “That has really helped with lifting. In the end, it’s the same concept.”

  The family spent $25,000 on specialized therapy for Drew, and he has shown improvement. The family developed routines and safeguards. Every door, pantry and bedroom in their house is locked, even from the inside. They cut gluten from his diet, calming his demeanor and increasing his comprehension.

  They do not watch television in the morning, so Drew can get ready for school without distraction. From 1 a.m. to 4 a.m., Dan takes care of Drew, when he often throws what the family calls parties, jumping on the bed, opening and shutting the bedroom door 20 times, breaking into fits of giggles.

  “Still, Drew isn’t able to come up and tell me how his day is,” Roach said. “There will always be a part of him I cannot get to.”

  Each morning when Drew boards the bus, Roach looks him in the eye and says goodbye. She makes eye contact and says, “I’m waiting.” “I love you,” Drew says back.

  As much as Drew helped his mother learn to enjoy weight lifting, the constant movement of the complex family helps him, too. Drew used to throw fits when confronted with new environments, like when they turned left at a certain stoplight instead of right toward his grandmother’s house.

  But autism is a challenge they will always confront, long after the Olympics. While cleaning out Dan’s office last month, Drew lay on the ground. “No tantrums,” his mother said firmly.

  “No tantrums! No tantrums!” Drew screamed.

  “Drew’s disability grounds them for life with other people who have challenges that are insurmountable,” Dan’s mother, Pam Roach, said. “You can’t surmount autism. You can learn to live with it.”

  Roach trains for the Olympics in her gymnastics facility, a converted day-care center now filled with a symphony of barbell clangs and grunts. She made the transition from gymnastics into weight lifting in quick fashion. Guided by a coach, John Thrush, who trained elite prospects in his garage, Roach, then Melanie Kosoff, won her first national championship in 1997.

  She met Dan in September 1998, and they married six months later. During the courtship, they traveled to Finland for the world championships. Melanie needed to complete one lift for a bronze medal, but “bombed out” on the platform, the pressure of meeting expectations heavier than the weight itself. After she lost, Dan told her that he lost his first election by 300 votes, or one-half of 1 percent.

  On the streets of Finland, they wondered where everything went wrong. “And it didn’t get better, unfortunately,” Melanie said. “That was the beginning of the snowball effect.”

  The first comeback, in 2003, lasted seven months before the back pain returned. She describes it as “way past 10,” worse than childbirth, and she notes she had her three kids naturally, at home.

  “The best way to put it is as volatile as you can imagine,” said Greg Summers, Roach’s chiropractor. “I see four to five herniated disks a week, and hers is the worst I have ever seen.”

  During long evenings Roach spent icing in the bathtub, she and Dan talked often about retiring for good. Even when she returned to the national team, she considered giving up her spot.

  Unable to stand up straight, spending days at a time in bed, she called Summers in desperation.

  Other doctors told her she risked serious injury, said that she could end up in a wheelchair. “Most orthopedic surgeons would cringe at the fact she was doing anything, let alone weight lifting,” Summers said.

  At the world championships in October 2006, Roach finally told the team doctor about the herniated disk and three fragments imbedded in the nerve. The doctor recommended a surgeon in Los Angeles.

  Five days after surgery, Roach was lifting weights without bending her back. Seven months later, she won her seventh national championship.

  She later won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games and regained her No. 1 ranking among United States lifters.

  “Amazing,” Dan Roach said. “We literally went from the world championships to the operating table and back in less than a year.”

  But when would Melanie Roach enjoy it?

  Back in the gym, with a poster from the Finland flameout and a Beijing T-shirt hanging from the wall, Roach lifted bars bent with colored plates while the song “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie blasted through her earphones.

  “Weight lifting is the easiest part of my day,” she said.

  Thrush can tell immediately how well Roach is balancing the complexities of her life. He said he knew Roach was struggling with the pressure at the national championships in March, when she successfully lifted only two of six attempts. To qualify for Beijing, she must finish fourth or better in the 53-kilogram weight class at the Olympic trials in Atlanta on May 17.

  “You’ll have an opportunity to be an average, everyday woman after August,” Thrush said he tells Roach when she seems distracted. “You need to be selfish now.”

  Team Roach marches on through a life that Dan Roach described as “organized chaos.” Bonnie Kosoff, Melanie’s mother, moved in recently to take care of the children. Summers and Thrush travel to events.

  “You know how they say it takes a village to raise a child?” Kosoff said. “Well, it takes a village to get someone to the Olympics, too.”

  The changed outlook remains. Had Roach gone to the Olympics in 2000, she said, she would not have three kids or the business. Had there been no Drew, she may never have learned what Thrush tried to teach her all along — the concept of slow and small but steady and incremental progress.

  But the biggest change that Drew inspired was in Roach, the athlete. She now enjoys the Olympic quest, 14 years after it started.

  Summers, the chiropractor, said he first noticed the difference at an airport recently. Roach had been stopped by security and told she could not proceed with the fingernail polish in her carry-on. She stopped, smiled, propped up her feet and applied a fresh coat.

   

   

• Lipscomb Takes Gold at World Cup Snowboard Finals - (Youtube: Watch Crispin's Gold Medal World Cup Win Here!)

  Canadian Halfpipe Veteran Punctuates Comeback With Surprise Victory

  Sunday March 16; Valmalenco, Italy: It's been quite a month for the Canadian Snowboard Team. Though its race schedule during that period would make even an air attendant's travel itinerary look pedestrian by comparison - six events, five countries, three continents and 20 hours of time change in four weeks - the team revealed a new-and-improved version of itself in the concluding races of the 2007-08 season by posting its best run of World Cup results ever.

  "What most impresses me about these results" sans Canadian Team head coach Jim Miller, "is how broad-based they are. Doesn't matter what discipline. Doesn't matter the age of the athlete. Doesn't even matter whether they are coach or rider, service person or physiotherapist. Everyone on this team is dedicated to one thing: delivering high performance results on demand."

  The final World Cup event of the 2008 season, the halfpipe contest (completed earlier today), clearly underscores Miller's contention that his young charges are not afraid to compete at the highest levels now. Consider Crispin Lipscomb's s ride to victory today.

  After all, it was only a year ago that Lipscomb was sitting on the sidelines, healing a broken collarborne and wondering when he'd ever be able to get back to high-level competition. And when he was finally cleared to compete again just in time for this last, highly-concentrated month of World Cup contests, the winner of the 2006 World Cup Finals struggled. 

  From a promising 10^th place ride in his first event back in Korea, his performances tumbled over the next few weeks until it was amply apparent to everyone that things couldn't keep going the way they were going. "It wasn't the comeback I expected," admits Lipscomb. "I was really fighting myself in the pipe."

  Embarrassed and frustrated by a less-than-stellar showing in Calgary - a modest 24^th -- Lipscomb took advantage of the new, more flexible program put in place by discipline head coach, Tom Hutchinson this year and went back home to Whistler to regroup. "It was a real judgment call for me," he explains. "I could have gone to Quebec and braved the weather and conditions and hope to turn things around. Or I could go home --get a little training in; do a little snowmobiling -- and head for Italy refreshed and ready to win again. I'm really glad the coaches and the program gave me enough leeway to choose the latter."

  No question. Competing before a raucous crowd of knowledgeable - and highly appreciative - Italian spectators, Lipscomb put down the kind of run in the finals that had his coaches raving for more! "His winning run was a thing of beauty," said Hutchinson. "It was perfect. He made every move, every jump, look easy. There didn't seem to be any effort there - he was just floating from lip-to-lip. And that's what the judges usually want to see."

  Indeed. For the second time in three seasons, the young Whistler local was awarded the gold in the final event of the World Cup circuit. And as he says: "It was exactly the same weather and conditions as two years ago. And I took full advantage of that fact."

  But that doesn't explain going from 24^th to first in two weeks. What happened? "I just got my feeling back," he says. "I just needed a little time on my own to fine-tune some things. And you know what - it feels great to be back!"

  Explains Lipscomb of his victorious ride: "It was just a super clean run. Nothing complicated or overly fancy. I went front backside air, to front 9, to backside 5, to front 7 and finished with a cab 7. I just think I put a lot of style into it today. I felt really strong and confident -- finally.  And I knew it from the moment I got in the pipe this morning."

  The support he got from his teammates, says Lipscomb, played a huge part in today's victory. "The guys on the team right now, they're riding really well. And that's totally inspiring. Everyone is pushing everyone else to put out their best stuff. And that's very cool." With four in the top fifteen, and three advancing into today's final, the Canadian squad was also noteworthy for being the top performer among the nations in attendance.

   

• Roach Wins 8th National Championships - Columbus, Ohio, February 29, 2008 – America’s #1 ranked weightlifter, Melanie Roach (Bonney Lake, WA) took one more critical step toward Beijing, China and the 2008 Olympic Games today as she secured her 8^th US National Champion title at the USA National Weightlifting Championships held as part of the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival. 

   In front of a capacity crowd, and as the final athlete to take the stage, Roach dominated the field of 14 competitors from around the country winning the snatch event, the clean-and-jerk and the overall National Championship. 

   “My first two lifts in the snatch didn’t go according to plan so that turned up the pressure on the last lift.  But, I learned a long time ago that I’ve got to stay focused on the lift I’m about to do rather than any I made or missed earlier in the competition.  The huge crowd, and the whole event was great training for Beijing and to come away with the win knowing that I can still do better is a great position to be in,” said Roach.

   Two missed lifts in the snatch at 78kilos (171.6 lbs) pushed Roach’s back to the wall to complete the lift on her final attempt or be eliminated from the competition.  She delivered, then went on to clean and jerk 105kilos, (231 lbs.) over double her own bodyweight, to the delight of the crowd.

  “I could definitely feel the crowd’s energy today.  It’s great to have that support. I know I’m the one who’s got to lift the weight, but there are so many people doing so many things behind the scenes to help me be at my best that I just feel like I have this great team, like I have the best team, and that feeling makes the lifting part just a bit easier”

   In 2000 Roach reigned as one of America’s standout lifters and was poised to fulfill her lifelong dream at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.  Tragically, weeks before, she suffered what appeared to be a career ending back injury.  Today, eight years later, with her husband, three children and dedicated team of family, coaches and fans she inched closer to fulfilling that dream.

   Roach’s final step to the Olympics Games will take place in May, in Atlanta, GA at the US Olympic Weightlifing Trials.  The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games begin August 8^th.

   

• Hedrick Returns to Medals Podium - World Cup Silver

  Hamar, Norway, January 27, 2008 - America's Chad Hedrick, Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalist, has spent some time in the shadows over the last year, conspicuously absent from his previously familiar position on the medals podium of speedskating's international World Cup circuit. That all changed yesterday as the big Texan took the silver medal in the grueling 10,000m event in 13:11.20, just 1.59 seconds behind Norwegian winner Harvard Bokko. An errant cross-over exchange with Dutchman Bob de Jong late in the race appeared that it may cost Hedrick a podium appearance but he recovered, rallied back and narrowly missed the gold medal. 

   
  "If not for the crossover with Bob (de Jong) I know I could have won this race. I'm not sure what happened there but it just goes to show that anything can happen in a race. You never know. You've just got to skate hard through the (finish) line and let the officials sort out the rest. I'm really happy with the silver. We've worked harder than ever before this year and now it's starting to pay off."
   
  In late summer, Hedrick and the US Speedskating Team transitioned to a new coach, Belgium's Bart Veldkamp.  Born in The Netherlands, Veldkamp is a multiple Olympic medalist who, like Hedrick, seemed to grow stronger the longer the race distance.  Some questioned the pairing of Hedrick and Veldkamp early in the season, as Hedrick uncharacteristically failed to win medals in the first half of the competition year.
   
  "Last summer Bart convinced me to try his training program and we began to make a lot of technical changes to my skating.  It was really taking a step back in hopes of taking two steps forward.  It was particularly hard earlier in the season.  I guess I'm used to winning so when I didn't it was a struggle to stick with it.  But the goal all along was to be in peak shape at the end of the season, when it matters most.  To skate like this today is a big weight off my shoulders and it confirms that all the hard work we put in earlier this year is all coming together now.  I just raced 10,000 meters and I feel great.  I'm ready to go again!"
   
  Hedrick and the rest of the World Cup circuit will move on to Baselga di Pine, Italy for a middle distance competition beginning February 2.

   

• Lund and Bernotas Win Silver and Bronze in St. Moritz World Cup

  ST. MORITZ, Switzerland— Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) won silver and bronze, respectively, at the men’s skeleton World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland today.

  “They are both very strong sliders, and they have proven that they are the ones to beat,” said Martin Rettl, U.S. skeleton driving coach and 2002 Olympic silver medalist.

  Lund captured silver today, despite having fractured his rib in a crash out of Horseshoe corner during a training run on Wednesday.

  “Zach should be very proud of himself,” Rettl said. “He showed what kind of competitor he is today. He was a little behind in the start because of his injury, but he still had the fastest time of all in the second run, and was once again standing on the podium.”

  Lund struggled at the start, pushing a time of 5.31 seconds, 20th best of the heat, before driving himself up 17 positions into third with a first run time of 1:10.53 seconds. Bettering his first heat effort, Lund pushed a tenth of a second faster in the second heat with a start time of 5.21 seconds, piloting his sled to the fastest time of the second run, a 1:10.04. Lund sped to the finish with the highest speed of the competition, 132.2 km/h, for a combined time of 2:20.57 to claim silver.

  Bernotas slid two consistent runs of 1:10.37 and 1:10.30, second and third fastest of the competition, respectively, for a two-run total of 2:20.67. Bernotas finished just 0.10 seconds from his teammate for the bronze medal.

  Both Americans medaled at the 2007 World Championships held in St. Moritz last season, where Bernotas claimed silver and Lund took bronze.

  Kristan Bromley from Great Britain claimed gold today with a combined time of 2:20.22 after sliding runs of 1:09.89, fastest of the day, and 1:10.33. Today marked Bromley’s first win since 2004.

  U.S. National Champion Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, N.Y.) had his World Cup season-best finish today, placing eighth. Smith slid runs of 1:10.66 and 1:10.61, both sixth fastest of the competition, for a combined time of 2:21.27.

  “During training he had a time of 1:08.53, which is the fastest time this year on the track,” Rettl said. “He was a little back in the push, but his driving was great. He made a great race.”

  After today’s victory, Bromley has claimed the overall World Cup lead with 1197 points. Lund is only 17 points behind with 1180 points, followed by teammate Bernotas in third with 1179.

  “Zach and Eric will be fighting for the title this year,” Rettl said. “It will be a very tight race for the overall Championship this year.”

  Don’t miss the action LIVE and On-Demand on NBCOlympics.com, courtesy of MediaZone. Check out the races for only $4.99, and find out more about bobsled, skeleton and luge, the fastest sports on ice.

  For complete results of today’s race, visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT).

  Results:
  1. Kristan Bromley (GBR) 2:20.22 (1:09.89, 1:10.33); 2. Zach Lund (USA) 2:20.57 (1:10.53, 1:10.04); 3. Eric Bernotas (USA) 2:20.67 (1:10.37, 1:10.30);…8. Caleb Smith (USA) 2:21.27 (1:10.66, 1:10.61);

   
• Bernotas Smashes Track Record on Way to Gold Medal in Lake Placid, N.Y. Men’s Skeleton World Cup; Lund Takes Bronze

  LAKE PLACID, N.Y.— Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) demolished the track record by over three-tenths of a second today for the gold medal in the men’s skeleton World Cup competition at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, N.Y. 2007 World Cup Champion Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah) joined his teammate on the podium with a bronze medal finish. “The track is in awesome shape,” Bernotas said. “I felt more g-pressure on the lower part of the track than I have ever felt, so I figured I had to have been going a little faster than I’m used to going.”

  Despite snowy conditions, Bernotas, ninth off in the first heat, shocked the competition by smashing the track record set by Matt Antoine in December 2006 by .19 seconds with a first heat time of 54.55.“I was just glad to put down a solid run,” Bernotas said. “I knew I still had a second run to do, so I was feeling good, but I had to look within myself, stay relaxed, and prepare for run number two.”

  Bernotas had almost a four-tenth of a second lead over the field entering the second run. The 2007 World Championship silver medalist stayed relaxed, and was able to demolish the track record again with a second run time of 55.43 seconds. At the end of the competition, Bernotas shaved 0.31 seconds off the track record.

  “Things are coming together,” Bernotas said. “If we as a team keep supporting one another like we have been, we’ll bring consistency into the second half.”

  Lund, who claimed the gold medal last week in Park City, Utah, had a podium finish again today with a bronze medal performance. Despite pushing the slowest start time of the heat with a 5.41 second push due to difficult start groove conditions, Lund drove himself into third position with a time of 55.11 seconds.

  “I was first off in the race today, which was a little unlucky with the condition of the groove,” Lund said.Lund improved his second start with a 5.19 push, finishing with the second-fastest run of the second heat, a 54.67. Lund claimed the bronze medal with a combined time of 1:49.78, eight-hundredths of a second from his teammate.

  “It wasn’t my best day, but I’m very happy to be where I’m at on the podium,” Lund said.Canadian Jon Montgomery, who won bronze in Calgary, Alberta on his home track, took silver in today’s competition with runs of 54.94 and 54.77 for a combined time of 1:49.71. The North Americans celebrated after the race, eagerly looking forward to the 2009 World Championships that will be held in Lake Placid next year.

  “The conditions were perfect during my run, and if I’d had a different draw, maybe my result would have been different,” Bernotas said.“You would have smoked it anyway,” Montgomery responded. “I’m sure my coach was having heart palpitations as I was coming out of corner 12. I had a moment of weightlessness, which leaves a little to be desired. But I feel like I’m getting a solid foundation on this track before World Championships here next year.”

  Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, N.Y.) struggled with the snowy conditions today, finishing ninth today after a the eighth and 11th fastest runs of the competition, a 55.34 and 55.22, respectively, for a total time of 1:50.56.

  For complete results of today’s race, visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning

  (FIBT).

  Results:

  1. Eric Bernotas (USA) 1:48.98 (54.55, 54.43); 2. Jon Montgomery (CAN) 1:49.71 (54.94, 54.77); 3. Zach Lund (USA) 1:49.78 (55.11, 54.67);…9. Caleb Smith (USA) 1:50.56 (55.34, 55.22);

   

• Lund and Bernotas Claim Gold and Silver in Men’s Skeleton World Cup Competition in Park City, Utah

PARK CITY, Utah—The U.S. men’s skeleton team responded to Katie Uhlaender’s silver medal performance this morning by claiming the gold and silver medals in today’s competition at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. Defending World Cup Champion Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah) claimed the gold, with teammate Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) twenty-five hundredths of a second behind for the silver medal.

“This really helped my momentum to get back on top,” Lund said. “It feels great to have this victory on my home track with my friends and family here to support me.”

Lund rebounded after a disappointing 11th place finish last week by winning the gold medal on his home track today.

“Last week I wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” Lund said. “I was able to make adjustments this week, and one thing I’ve learned over the years is how to not let mistakes keep me from coming back.”

Zach blasted out a first place run of 48.87 in the first heat after pushing a 4.84, just 0.23 seconds ahead of teammate Bernotas. Bernotas pushed an identical 4.84 start to finish the first heat with a time of 49.10 seconds.

A steady snow began to fall during the second heat, causing unpredictable runs for the sliders. Despite the inconsistent conditions, Lund and Bernotas maintained their first and second positions to claim the top two spots on the medal stand.

“Zach, Caleb and I pushed each other all week, and it paid off,” Bernotas said. “Unfortunately, the snow may have played a role in some of the people’s down times today, but you’ve got to stay focused, and do what you need to do.”

Bernotas stopped the clock in one minute, 38.41 seconds after a second run time of 49.56 for the silver medal. Lund slid a second run time of 49.54 for a total of 1:38.41 to claim the gold medal on his home track.

“Zach showed that he can slide well on this track, and the he is the best,” Bernotas said. “I’m happy for him.”

Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, N.Y.) finished in 16th place today after runs of 49.39 and 50.34 for a total time of 1:39.73.

“There’s not much you can do when conditions are like this,” Smith said. “Next week we’ll be in Lake Placid. Bring it baby.”

The U.S. skeleton team will compete in Lake Placid, N.Y. next Friday, Dec. 14th for the third World Cup stop of the 2007-08 season.

For complete results of today’s race, visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT).

Results:
1. Zach Lund (USA) 1:38.41 (48.87, 49.54); 2. Eric Bernotas (USA) 1:38.66 (49.10, 49.56); 3. Anthony Sawyer (GBR) 1:38.70 (49.13, 49.57);…16. Caleb Smith (USA) 1:39.73 (49.39, 50.34);

About the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation

The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. The USBSF would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support: Allianz Life, Columbia Sportswear Company, Speedo, CW-X, KBC Helmets, ULU Boots, Racing Electronics, Schenker Logistics, Lumber Liquidators and Whelen Engineering. For more information, please visit the USBSF Web site at www.usbsf.com.
 

• Smith 3rd on Soelden Glacier

  SOELDEN, Austria (Oct. 21) - Hefty Adam Smith (Bend, OR), riding new equipment and with new confidence, powered his way to third place Saturday in a World Cup parallel giant slalom on the Rettenbach Glacier. His first podium outdoors was the first top-3 for the U.S. men in two seasons. Smith, who received a new Kessler snowboard at midweek, crashed in his first run of the head-to-head semifinal round. But, he nearly made up his automatic 1.5-second deficit against Rok Flander of Slovenia, the eventual winner. Then the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Smith defeated Austrian Benjamin Karl in the two-run, "small final" for third place. His first podium in three seasons is also the third top-3 of Smith's career, but his first in PGS; his other two podiums were on parallel slalom - both on the indoor course at Landgraaf, Netherlands. He won there in 2004 and finished third in '05. Coach: "Awesome to watch..." "It was awesome to watch Adam ride so well," U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach Peter Foley said. "He was on a new board and it made a huge difference. "The conditions were so good. It had snowed a little over the rock-hard glacial ice, so everyone could get a nice edge. And it stayed perfect the whole day," Foley added. "It was super clean. It was mostly sunny, but mostly it was real wintry and that's a nice change, good to feel those real winter conditions." Other U.S. men battled in consistency, the coach said. Former Olympic medalist Chris Klug (Aspen, CO) was the next American, finishing 18th. "They'd have one good run and then things would go a little south for 'em. But, the guys had good training over here and that's important." said Foley. "It's a tight field..." "There isn't much of a margin for mistakes," Foley said. "It's a tight field of riders. And with the qualification system, you just have to be on it both runs. One good run won't get it done for you in getting to the top 16 to reach finals." Sunday, no U.S. woman qualified for finals in PGS. The riders return to the United States and will regroup next month during their traditional November training camp at Copper Mountain, CO. The alpine side of the snowboarding World Cup resumes Dec. 8 with another PGS in Limone Piemonte, Italy. 2007 Snowboarding World Cup Rettenbach Glacier Soelden, AUT - Oct. 21, 2007 Men's Giant Slalom (Top 4 make semifinals) 1. Rok Flander, Slovenia 2. Daniel Biveson, Sweden 3. Adam Smith, Bend, OR 4. Benjamin Karl, Austria - Other U.S. riders: 18. Chris Klug, Aspen, CO 25. Justin Reiter, Steamboat Springs, CO 26. Tyler Jewell, Sudbury, MA 47. Zachary Kay, Mount Shasta, CA -- Oct. 22, 2007 Women's PGS (Top 4 make semifinals) 1. Marion Kreiner, Austria 2. Heidi Neururer, Austria 3. Nicolien Sauerbreij, Netherlands 4. Carmen Ranigler, Italy - 33. Lindsay Lloyd, Centerville, UT - DNF: Erica Mueller, Steamboat Springs, CO For complete results: www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=SB&competitorid=57214&raceid=7344

   
• #1 Ranked US Weightlifter Roach Joins Q Sports Marketing - Chicago, IL - October 2,  2007 - Melanie Roach, 2007 Pan Am Games Bronze Medalist and the current #1 ranked weightlifter in the US will now be represented by agent Patrick Quinn. 
   
  "A mother of three small children, a successful business owner, the wife of a state legislator, a Sunday school teacher AND a champion athlete ...Melanie really does personify a total marketing packaging," said Quinn.  As a parent myself, I know there is a huge number of hyper-busy young parents out there who feel they hardly have time to breath, let alone chase their personal dreams.  Melanie is a huge inspiration to countless people absorbed in hectic day to day life that wears on us all.  We're lucky to have her and looking forward to working with her." 
   
  For more information about Melanie follow this link.
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• Hedrick Still Most Dominant Inline Skater...EVER - September 6, 2007 - Who's The Greatest ever? You can decide for yourself after you check out the world roller speed skating all-time medal tally compliments of Skate Podium.  You don't need to speak Dutch to understand that Hedricks 58 career medals eclipse all other skaters in history, and appear untouchable in the future.  Read it here.

• Olympic Gold Medalist Hedrick Joins Q Sports Marketing - Chicago, IL - August 30, 2007
  Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalist Chad Hedrick has signed with Q Sports Marketing and will now be represented by agent Patrick Quinn. 
   
  "Combining Chad's past success on inline skates with his Olympic medals on the ice I'm confident in saying he's already one of the greatest skaters in history, and there's much more to come," said Quinn. "We have a great history of representing Olympic champions, esepcially in skating, so we're particularly excited to have Chad on board.  He's one of the most talented athletes, and dynamic personalities in Olympic sports.  He's a great addition." 
   
  Hedrick is in final stages of his preparation for the 2007-2008 World Cup competition season which will begin in October.  He's is currently training in Salt Lake City, UT.
   
  "I was impressed with how Q Sports handled Derek (Parra) after he won his medals (2002) and Joey (Cheek) coming out of 2006 so I'm excited to have them in my corner now," Hedrick said. "I've been feeling great on the ice lately and I'm anxious to get the season under way. Having an experienced agent on my team makes it that much easier for me to stay focused on bringing my best to the ice every chance I get."

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• Professional Bass Fishing at Q Sports Marketing - Chicago, IL --- Professional angler Gary Colasessano (Indianapolis, IN) is the latest athlete to come on board at Q Sports Marketing and in so doing brings with him the enormous and exciting market of professional sport fishing.  Fishing is a 108 billion dollar industry whose demographics align with NASCAR and whose popularity exceeds that of golf and tennis combined.  On the sports side of fishing, bass fishing, Gary's specialty, is now one of few sporting events worldwide to reach the 1 Million dollar prize purse for a single event winner!  Read all about Gary and professional bass fishing through his webpage.

• JetBlue Airways U.S. National Luge Start Championships Set for Friday, Aug. 17 LAKE PLACID, N.Y.

  LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Brian Martin (Palo Alto, Calif.) will look to defend a pair of luge start titles, while Julia Clukey (Augusta, Maine) has her sights set on a third straight women's singles crown during Friday night's, Aug. 17, JetBlue Airways U.S. National Luge Start Championships. The annual race, which begins at 7 p.m., will be held on the indoor, refrigerated start ramps at USA Luge's headquarters in Lake Placid, N.Y.

  Martin won last summer's men's singles title by the slimmest of margins... a single thousandth of a second over teammate Tony Benshoof (White Bear Lake, Minn.), who finished second. In the doubles event, he and his teammate, Mark Grimmette (Muskegon, Mich.), won their first title together since 2003.

  Clukey and her teammate, Ashley Walden (Westborough, Mass.), are expected to be the top two contending women's singles sleds. While Clukey has come away with consecutive victories over the past two years, and is the track record holder, Walden is a seven-time winner of this event. Erin Hamlin (Remsen, N.Y.), a 2006 Olympian, could also find herself near or on the medal podium.

• Good Guy Is Forgotten in Bad Week for Sports  - NY Times July 31, 2007

  By HARVEY ARATON

  In a little-noticed variation on a widely examined theme, a well-known sports figure stalked the authorities last week as opposed to the other way around. This time, a government played defense while the voice of the people was heard through the mouth of the athlete.

  More than 42,000 signatures were delivered to the Chinese Embassy in Washington on behalf of an organization called the Save Darfur Coalition. He went to the front door. Put his finger to the bell.

  “Yes?” a voice from the other side said.

  “My name is Joey Cheek,” he said. “I am on the U.S. Olympic team. And I am here to deliver petitions that we have collected over the last week imploring China to continue to act strongly to protect the civilians in Darfur.”

  That was last Thursday, when Michael Vick was in a Virginia courtroom, beginning his most vital scramble, trying to elude stomach-churning charges brought by federal prosecutors of sponsoring a dogfighting operation that a co-defendant said yesterday was mostly financed by Vick.

  Cheek, the American speed skater who won the gold medal in the 500 meters at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, was holding his ground that day with a message — stop the slaughter in Sudan — to the host country of next summer’s Olympics in Beijing.

  “Only you can come in,” the embassy gatekeeper told Cheek, instructing the coalition members with him, along with a Darfuri refugee named Daoud Hari, to retreat.

  Clutching thick binders with signatures collected around the United States, Cheek waited as 5 minutes became 10, 10 became 20, 20 became 30. Just leave them, one of his colleagues suggested.

  Not yet, Cheek said, and after more than a half-hour, the front door opened. Into the lobby, to a brief audience with embassy officials, he went to make his drop and propose leading a group of American and Chinese athletes on a trip to Darfur, the violence-racked region of Sudan, a country with which China wields considerable economic clout.

  “They didn’t dismiss it,” Cheek said in a telephone interview. “They seemed interested.”

  Granted, the timing of his embassy mission wasn’t good, if attention was the desired goal — not in a week when professional sport on so many levels was reeking of malfeasance, from one side of the Atlantic to the other. But shame on us if we can’t take a few moments to applaud Cheek’s patience, conviction and cause.

  Today, in this space, the now hounded quarterback Vick, the home run antihero Barry Bonds, the suspected rogue N.B.A. ref, the chemically aided cyclists and even poor, misunderstood Michael Strahan must wait while Cheek explains why mixing politics and sport — specifically the international version — does not violate any sacred, time-honored code.

  “The Chinese say, ‘Don’t politicize the Olympics,’ but that’s ridiculous,” Cheek said. “The only reason they wanted it was political, to prove they are a great power on the world stage.”

  For the record, he does not support calls to boycott Beijing, only using the Games as leverage to move the Chinese government on Darfur. If his two Olympic experiences have taught him anything, it is that the Games — rampant commercialism and scandals notwithstanding — are as good a stage as any “to fight for an ideal that you believe in.”

  More than his medals, Cheek is no doubt remembered for donating his 2006 Olympic prize money to a sport and humanitarian organization championed by Johann Olav Koss, the Norwegian speed-skating legend. For the standard post-Games period, Cheek was the face on the Wheaties box, America’s feel-good Olympian. He became a regular on the corporate speaking circuit, admittedly cashing in to fund a Princeton education he deferred for one year.

  Retired from skating, Cheek resumed giving back, formed his own charitable campaign — called it “Where Will We Be?” — to galvanize Olympians and raise money to fund worthy causes.

  He began by stepping onto the Darfur soapbox, but the more he learned about displacement and genocide, the more he couldn’t get off it. He spoke at a Washington rally with Barack Obama and Hollywood activists, targeting, in part, Bush Administration policy. He testified before Congress. He traveled to China, Egypt and the troubled area in Chad near its border with Sudan.

  He would like to work with Ira Newble, the journeyman basketball player who last spring collected signatures from his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates on a letter to China protesting Darfur — absent, most notably, was the young superstar, LeBron James.

  “Most Olympians are nowhere near that level of fame,” Cheek said. “But if it’s a choice between standing up for something I believe in or not because I’m worried about celebrity or money, it’s a no-brainer.”

  If only that were the rule, not the exception, a breath of fresh air in the dog days of an uncommonly depressing sports summer.

   

"It is my sincere privilege to address this august committee. I would
like to thank the Chairman, Congressman Tierney, all of the members
and the congressional staff for extending the invitation to speak on
my experiences as an Olympic athlete and a concerned citizen who
continues to fight for the protection of the millions of innocent
civilians residing in Darfur, Sudan.

I would like to thank the committee for calling this hearing and for
drawing attention to the crisis in Darfur as well as exploring options
that we Olympians have for positively motivating the international
community to swiftly and effectively improve the lives of the millions
that are suffering.

Throughout my life I have been incredibly blessed. After years of
hard work, training, exhaustive preparations, and the sacrifice of my
family, friends, and community, I have had the privilege to compete in
two Olympic Games representing the United States as Speedskater. From
those two competitions I brought home three medals, a bronze medal in
the 2002 Olympic Games and gold and silver medals in the 2006 Olympic
Games in Turin, Italy.

Winning Olympic medals is a great personal thrill, but I brought home
lessons and experiences from those two games that I participated in
that are worth much more than mere athletic awards. These lessons are
best illustrated by a story that I feel encapsulates the true spirit
of Olympic competition and goes strait to the heart of the crisis in
Darfur that we are addressing here today.

Within the Olympic Village, an area only a handful of people
throughout the world are ever permitted to see, the greatest athletes
on Earth live and complete their final preparations for the most
important competition of their lives. Success means immortality in
the annuls of Olympic history and falling short of the goal of
athletic perfection means that although your name may not be mentioned
alongside the greats, you are still part of a rarefied club, the
holder of a shared experience of excellence. The media loves to tout
this aspect of the games: the thrill of victory, that agony of defeat.
However seeing only the competitive part alone shows a tiny fraction
of the true beauty of the Olympic Games.

I believe that the true Olympic Spirit can be demonstrated by this
example: Inside the Village all of the athletes eat together. I know
that may seem trivial, but as you walk inside the dining hall your
gaze drifts up to the rafters where all of the flags of the competing
nations hang then drifts back down to the long tables where all of the
athletes proudly wear the colors of their nations draped on their
backs the true glory of this otherwise ordinary act is played out.
Athletes from the Americas sit and break bread next to athletes from
Africa. The athletes from the many nations of Europe, whose
grandfathers lives were devastated by a war that encompassed the
world, now laugh and embrace each other like brothers inside this
shared space. It was in this enclave that I realized that I may have
more in common with an athlete born in communist China, through our
shared love of our sport and experience on the field of play, than I
have with some of my own native born countrymen. This is the true
magnificence of the Olympic Games. We can fight like hell on the
athletic field and return to live in peace.

It was with this spirit in mind that I made a decision that has
altered the course of my life. After winning a gold and silver medal
in the 2006 Olympic Games I donated all of the money I received as a
medal bonus, $40,000, to an organization to aid refugees from the
region of Darfur. I have been asked many times why I choose that
conflict at that time and my answer is simple. I believed that no
where else on earth was there a crisis affecting so many people that
had such an inverse level of international attention and power focused
on bringing it to an end. Although the level of attention focused on
this conflict has improved over the last sixteen months or so since I
made this announcement, there are still thousands of people being
killed or raped and millions more who have been driven from their
homes.

I have spent the last year as an unofficial ambassador of sorts,
traveling the country educating young people on the crisis and what
they can do to help end it, and traveling the world speaking with
leaders in other countries imploring them to do more. Just a few
months ago I traveled to Chad, where I visited refugee camps populated
by tens of thousands of Darfuri citizens and heard firsthand of the
tales of systemic murder, rape, villages being razed to the ground,
and families being forced to flee for their lives. The images from
those camps continue to haunt me. I am filled with rage when I think
of the level of depravity to which some people can sink. Complacency
in the face of such evil is indeed very hard to justify. It is, in
fact, the opposite of what the Olympics were created to celebrate,
which is why this topic is so relevant here today.

As the glow of games in Turin fade the light of a new games begins to
shine. China, the most populated (???) nation on earth will be
hosting the grandest sporting event on earth, the 2008 summer
Olympics. China, with its economy growing faster than almost any
other nation, looks at these games as their coronation on the worlds
stage, proving that they are indeed a force that will shape history in
this century. By hosting an Olympic Games, a nation becomes the torch
bearer for the Olympic ideals, as well as the host of a sporting
event. In this crisis China plays an especially important role
because it is the top economic partner of Sudan. China purchases two
thirds of Sudan's oil exports, China has invested hundreds of millions
of dollars in Sudan's economy and China sits on the UN Security
council wielding veto power over any international effort to protect
innocents in darfur from these murderous elements. By hosting an
event that professes peace over conflict, China has laid claim to a
higher moral ground. It is now up to them to fulfill that obligation.

China is not alone however, as the sole bearer of the Olympic ideal
that all citizens are entitled to the rights of a safe and protected
life. Every nation completing in these games has an obligation to
fight the injustice of mass atrocities. That is why I have formed a
new organization, an international coalition of athletes, titled
"Where Will We B?". I seek over the next year to bring in athletes
not just from the United States, but every country in the world
competing in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing to stand up and say that we
believe that the Olympic games should be more than just a sporting
competition. We believe that no matter what nation in which you were
born you deserve the same chance to fulfill their dreams as the great
athletes competing at the Olympics. We believe that China, as host
nation and a nation with extraordinary leverage, should take a
leadership role in ending the atrocities for the people of Darfur.
And we believe, that as athletes, we are leaders and role models in
our community, and we will do all that we can to make all people aware
of this crisis and that it can be stopped.

Thank you again to all the members of this committee and thank you for
giving me the opportunity to speak about what makes my Olympic
experience truly meaningful. Thank your for hosting a hearing on this
critical issue, which could ultimately mean the difference of life and
death for millions of people. I know that the eyes of the world will
be on Beijing on 8-8-08, but I implore all of us to wonder where the
citizens of Darfur will be at that time. Thank You."

• ADIDAS AND RIGHT TO PLAY KICK OFF RED BALL MOVEMENT

  Using The Power of Sport and Play to Create a Healthier and Safer World

   PORTLAND, Ore., May 31 PRNewswire — International humanitarian organization, Right To Play a a  nd adidas have joined forces to bring the positive impact of sport and play to children in disadvantaged communities around the world.  The centerpiece of the program is a limited edition mini red ball that goes on sale today at adidas stores worldwide and on adidas.com.

   The mini ball is a world cup-style redesign of Right to Play’s longstanding symbol and will retail for 10 dollars in the US.  As a primary driver for the awareness initiative, adidas retail employees will act as Right to Play ambassadors and the stores will be transformed to showcase the work that Right to Play is doing in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.  All proceeds from the sale of the mini ball will go to support Right to Play’s projects around the world.

   “In the communities where we work, Right to Play’s red ball is recognized as a symbol of hope, health and happiness,” said Olympic legend and Right To Play President and CEO Johann Koss. “By buying this special mini ball, children in this country can give the gift of laughter, hope and health to children in need around the world.” 

  In conjunction with the mini ball initiative, the Adi Dassler Fund will provide over 100,000 full size red balls for use in the more than 20 countries where Right to Play has programs. The red ball embodies Right to Play’s values – the best values of sport including cooperation, respect, inclusion, integrity and fair play. Written on the red ball are the words “Look after yourself, look after one another.” This is the philosophy that guides Right to Play’s work. Through its programs, the organization strives to empower individuals to look after themselves and look after their communities.

   Additionally, legendary soccer phenom, Zinedine Zidane, who retired from international competition last year, is now devoting much of his time to working with children and will partner with the Adi Dassler Fund to be a key driver of the Right to Play initiative.  Over the course of the year, Zidane will travel to one of the countries participating in Right to Play programs and lending his voice to the movement. 

   “I know firsthand the positive impact sport can have on your life and the skills and values sport can teach like leadership, team work, confidence and perseverance,” explained Zidane. “Together with Right To Play and the Adi Dassler Fund, I hope to have the opportunity to share my love of sports with children around the world and to help them grow and learn through the power of sport and play.”

   Later in July, adidas and Right to Play will expand the initiative with Major League Soccer bringing the program to life in-stadium and reaching MLS athletes and fans nationwide.

   “Sport for Development is still a relatively new area in terms of global recognition, but with adidas and Zidane on board we will encourage people everywhere to join this important movement,” explained Koss.

  Right To Play

  Right To Play uses specially-designed sport and play programmes to improve health, build life skills, and foster peace for children and communities affected by war, poverty, disease. Working in both the humanitarian and development contexts, Right To Play has projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

   Right To Play is the only global-scale implementer of Sport for Development and Peace programmes and takes an active role in driving research and policy development in this area. 

  Right To Play was founded by four-time Olympic gold medalist Johann Olav Koss.

   Adi Dassler Fund

  The Adi Dassler Fund was formed to give structure and focus in realizing the adidas brand vision to make the world a better place through our passion for sport. It is a non-profit organization separate from the adidas brand, but receives aid in the form of financial and product contributions, employee volunteerism, sponsored-athlete support and marketing assistance. The Adi Dassler Fund is a tool that helps employees to channel their goodwill.

• Joey Cheek Update - May 2007 - Olympic champion, humanitarian and Darfur activist Joey Cheek will be officially recognized as the US Olympic Committee's 2006 Sportsman of the Year later this week in Washington, DC.  Cheek will join the prestigious company of past winners including Lance Armstrong, Pete Sampras, Carl Lewis and Eric Heiden.  In addition, Cheek was also a finalist for the Amateur Athletic Association's Athlete of the Year, Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year as well as the inaugural recipient of the Heisman Humanitarian Award.   Joey Cheek has continued to enjoy his time in the spotlight with gold, silver and bronze medals opening plenty of doors. Last week he debuted on MTV Networks 'mtvU Campus Invastion Tour' as a guest on-air personality interviewing bands the likes of The Shins, Shiny Toy Guns and Dashboard Confessional at tour stops in Austin, Atlanta and Philadelphia. The current edition of GQ Magazine features a well dressed Cheek showing readers how to look like an Olympic Champion without having to spend a lot of gold. Joey will also be appearing on the Today Show tomorrow morning (May 4) as well as returning to Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People gala in NY City next week where he was honored for the first time last year.  Cheek has continued his work as a spokesperson for  The Save Darfur Coalition and Right To Play, while developing his own Darfur activist group Where Will We Be?  He maintains an active calendar of speaking engagements and public appearances sharing not only his inspirational story of Olympic medal winning success, but what he considers to be his most meaningful role of challenging others to give back through their own successes while embracing the responsibilities of becoming a "global citizen."  Recent appearances have included stops in Orlando - Disney World,  Atlanta - Coca Cola, back home in Greensboro, NC - UNC and frequent appearances throughout the Washington, DC area where he now resides.

• A stonemason finds his groove

  At age 30, Eric Bernotas had never heard of the little-known sport of skeleton. Now, five years later, he is Olympic material.

  By Will Hobson

  For The Inquirer

  The existence of fate, or destiny, is unprovable, but those looking for evidence have a reason to believe in Eric Bernotas.

  It's hard to hear the 1989 Malvern Prep graduate explain how he, a stonemason at age 30 who had never even heard of the sport of skeleton, is at age 35 the four-time defending national champion and an Olympic medal contender without thinking that perhaps there is a little more at work here than just dumb luck.

  The little-known sport of skeleton is similar to the bobsled or luge, with racers gaining a running head start before plunging down a tunnel of ice.

  Skeleton racers fly head-first down the same tracks as the other sports, hitting speeds up to 80 m.p.h. as they negotiate the 15 to 20 turns on a small slab of fiberglass before crossing the finish line.

  Potential is a central theme when talking with Bernotas. It was an innate potential that he always felt growing up in Malvern that fueled him, once he graduated from West Virginia University in 1994, to train for... well, he wasn't quite sure what.

  "I was preparing for the opportunity," said Bernotas. "I wanted an opportunity to play sports at a high level, so I trained. If it didn't work out, well, that was fine. I was improving my life in the meantime."

  The opportunity to tap this potential presented itself when, on a road trip to Vermont in January 2002, Bernotas and his girlfriend got lost and ended up in, of all places, Lake Placid, N.Y. It was there that Bernotas met his destiny.

  "The first time I went off the top of the track I didn't know if I wanted to do it again," said Bernotas, who had signed up for a spot in a training camp after meeting skeleton officials in Lake Placid. "I figured that I should stick it out, and soon I started believing that I could be pretty good."

  Emboldened by early success, Bernotas quit his job as a stonemason, and started training full-time. Skeleton, though far more popular in Europe - where Bernotas is currently competing - than in the U.S. is not a sport that fills your bank account. The limited sponsorships cover only some of the many costs of racing.

  "This is enough money for me to get by and pay my bills, and do what I need to do to continue pursuing my goals," said Bernotas, adding, "I'm doing it for the love of the sport."

  His breakthrough performance came at the 2004 U.S. national championships in Lake Placid. Bernotas held a slight lead over Chris Soule, a 2002 Olympian, heading in to their final runs. Soule set a new track record (he had owned the previous record as well) with his 54.97-second run.

  Soule's record lasted barely 10 minutes. Bernotas slid past the finish line in 54.79 seconds, setting a new record and clinching the championship.

  "It really hit home to me after that race that he was good enough to not only to compete, but to beat these guys," said Al Bernotas of Avondale, Eric's father. "I fell in love with it [skeleton] after that," said Al.

  Bernotas entered the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino as the three-time defending U.S. champion, ranked third internationally. He left without a medal, placing sixth, but with something much more important: his health.

  NBC, which was broadcasting the Olympics, arranged for a sledding race between the U.S. skeleton and luge teams. Bernotas landed awkwardly off a jump, suffering a slight stress fracture in his neck. Teammate Kevin Ellis came hurtling down the same hill moments after Bernotas, and had an even worse landing, breaking a vertebra in his back.

  "It turns out that being in the cold and the snow probably saved him from being paralyzed, because it kept the swelling down," said Bernotas.

  Ellis has not raced since, and is still recovering. Bernotas just completed another successful racing season, winning his fourth straight U.S. championship, and earning a silver medal at the World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland. His eyes are on Vancouver, the site of the 2010 Olympics.

  "I think the whole journey has been me just following where I am supposed to be," said Bernotas when asked what role he thought fate may have played in his whirlwind career. "I'm following a passion, a dream. I didn't follow it a normal way, but in this atmosphere I feel like I thrive, not just as an athlete, but as a human being."

  More on Bernotas

  For more information on Eric Bernotas, visit his Web site at http://slidingsport.com.

  For his race results, and for other information on skeleton, visit http://fibt.com.

   

• USA Luge’s Benshoof Wins World Cup Bronze... Italy’s Zoeggeler Sets a New World Cup Mark

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ALTENBERG, Germany --- USA Luge’s Tony Benshoof (White Bear Lake, Minn.) slid to a bronze medal, while Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler raced into the record books during Sunday’s, Jan. 21, single-run men’s singles luge World Cup race held in Altenberg, Germany. Officials were forced to stop the race halfway through the second heat because of high winds.
  
  Benshoof was the race’s first slider and he said that from the beginning, the wind was blowing pretty hard. “I could really feel it up top. This track is hard enough to get down and with the wind blowing in places like curve-nine, kreisel and 14, it makes it even more difficult,” remarked Benshoof, who held on for a single-heat time of 55.042 seconds. “The wind was pushing me around pretty good, but all in all, I was pretty happy with my run. I had one big mistake and that was in curve-15, where I had a big skid and I lost a tenth or two, but I think I was able to put down a pretty solid run.”
  
  The medal is Benshoof’s first this season and he says it will give him momentum heading into the 39th World Luge Championships in two weeks, Feb. 2-4, in Igls, Austria. “There’s no doubt, winning a medal before Worlds should help me feel a little more relaxed,” said the 31-year-old. “The sled’s also been running really well over the last couple of races, so I’m feeling a little more confident.”
  
  Zoeggeler notched his 34th-career series victory and surpassed both German Georg Hackl and Austrian Markus Prock for the most-career series wins. The 32-year-old had sat on 33-career World Cup wins for two weeks before he posted a one-run time of 54.683.
  
  The victory also allowed the five-time overall World Cup champion to extend his overall series lead over Germany’s David Moeller, who emerged as Sunday’s silver medalist in 54.867.
  
  Zoeggeler has 615 points, after seven races, while Moeller sits in second place with 560. Switzerland’s Stefan Hoehener holds down the third place spot with 368 points, while Benshoof is ranked ninth with 258 points.

   

• Bernotas Claims Silver in Men’s Skeleton World Championships

   

  St. Moritz, Switzerland­— Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) won the silver medal after the final heats of the men’s skeleton World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.  Current World Cup leader Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah) finished just 0.13 behind his teammate, taking the bronze.  The track record was broken three times during the final two heats of the race today.

   

  “This whole season has been building, and I’m feeling more and more confident as I carry momentum into each race,” Bernotas said.  “The silver today was just another boost.  I did what I had to do.”

   

  For Lund, this race was about more than a title, but an opportunity to prove himself.  Lund was informed of the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling to suspend him for one year for the banned substance finasteride, a masking agent found in his hair-restoration medication, as he was walking to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy.  Lund was the World Cup leader before his suspension.

   

  “It feels great to have placed third today,” Lund said.  “I feel no different than I did last year, when I was first overall.  I could have medalled at the Olympics in Torino, so it’s nice to come out this year and prove that this is for real, and it wasn’t just a fluke.”

   

  Staehli’s streak of first-place runs ended with the third fastest time in the third heat of 1:08.91.  Taking advantage of his opportunity to surpass Staehli, Bernotas smashed the track record with a 1:08.79. 

   

  Moments later, Austria’s Markus Penz was eager to climb from sixth position, breaking Bernotas’ record by only two one-hundredths of a second with a time of 1:08.76, moving him into fourth.  Lund had the fourth best time in the third heat with a 1:09.02.

   

  The fourth and final heat of the race was equally as exciting.  Staehli was eager to reclaim the World title he’d won thirteen years ago, obliterating the track record set just minutes earlier by both Bernotas and Penz with a time of 1:08.20, solidifying his victory. 

   

  Bernotas had a push time of 5.25 and a final run of 1:09.28 after his sled popped out of the start grooves during his push.

   

  “I have been around these sports for ten years now and I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone keep their composure as well as Eric did on his fourth heat,” U.S. skeleton assistant coach Greg Sand said.  “Eric blew the groove on his forth heat, and fought to keep his sled straight. You could see the determination in his eyes, and he had a beautiful trip the rest of the way down.  Unbelievable.”

   

  Bernotas still managed to have the sixth best time of the heat, claiming the silver with a combined time of 4:37.84.

   

  “Staehli was a half second ahead of me, and I knew that I needed to just go for it,” Bernotas said.  “The fans here are awesome, and I was ready to go, but then I popped the groove in the second run.  I was fortunate to have maintained my standing.”

   

  Lund finished with a combined time of 4:37.97 after a run of 1:09.02, identical to his third heat, to take the bronze. 

   

  “My big goal for this year has been the overall World Cup title, and the World Cup race in Torino,” Lund said.  “This race honestly wasn’t my main focus, but I am so happy about the result.”

   

  Penz finished in fourth with a total time of 4:38.16 and a fourth heat run of 1:08.77.  Russia’s Alexander Tretiakov had the third fastest time of the heat with a 1:08.86 after tying his push record of 4.82 that he set in the race yesterday, placing him in fifth.

   

  Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, N.Y.) placed twelfth, just two-tenths of a second from a top ten finish, with a combined time of 4:40.63 after runs of 1:10.25 and 1:09.31 today.

   

  Placing twentieth was Chris Hedquist (Salt Lake City, Utah) with runs of 1:10.15 and 1:09.87 for a total of 4:41.46.

   

  Between the men and women, the U.S. claimed four of the six medals in the skeleton World Championships.  The other two medals, a gold and silver, went to Switzerland’s home track competitors, Staehli and Maya Pederson, respectively.

   

  The World Championship race in St. Moritz will be broadcast on SPEED Channel this Sunday, Jan. 28 from 12-2 p.m.  Women’s and men’s skeleton races will be televised from 12-1 p.m, while the two-man bobsled competition will air from 1-2 p.m.  All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

   

  For complete results of the race, please visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT).

   

  Results:

  1. Gregor Staehli (SUI) 4:36.26 (1.09.59, 1:09.56, 1:08.91, 1:08.20); 2. Eric Bernotas (USA) 4:37.97 (1:09.75, 1:10.02, 1:08.79, 1:09.28); 3. Zach Lund (USA) 4:37.97 (1:09.94, 1:09.99, 1:09.02, 1:09.02); 4. Markus Penz (AUT) 4:38.16 (1:10.35, 1:10.28, 1:08.76, 1:08.77); 5. Alexander Tretiakov (RUS) 4:39.38 (1:10.14, 1:10.60, 1:09.78, 1:08.86); 6. Martins Dukers (LAT) 4:39.61 (1:10.61, 1:09.79, 1:09.56, 1:09.65);…12. Caleb Smith (USA) 4:40.63 (1:10.26, 1:10.81, 1:10.25, 1:09.31);…20. Chris Hedquist (USA) 4:41.46 (1:10.67, 1:10.77, 1:10.15, 1:09.87);

   

  About the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation
  The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. The USBSF would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support: Allianz Life, Columbia Sportswear Company, CW-X, KBC Helmets, Schenker Logistics, Speedo and Whelen Engineering. For more information, please visit the USBSF Web site at www.usbsf.com.

  ###

   

   

  Bernotas sets Nagano track record in win

  By Amanda Bird // U.S. Skeleton // January 13, 2007 

  Nagano, Japan­—Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) broke the track record during his first run of the World Cup men’s skeleton race in Nagano, Japan to claim his third-career World Cup victory today.  In second was teammate Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah), who finished only 0.32 behind Bernotas to win his third medal this season.

  “The weather played a small factor in the races, as there were intermittent snow showers,” U.S. skeleton team assistant coach Greg Sands said. “It lightened up just enough a few sleds before Zach and Eric and they both put two solid heats together despite the weather.”

  In his first run, Bernotas crossed the finish line with a time of 54.74, breaking the Nagano track record. Only 0.07 behind was Adam Pengilly from Great Britain with a time of 54.81. Lund finished his first run in third with a time of 54.89 seconds.  Two-tenths of a second separated the top four competitors, leading to a tight race for the podium in the second heat.

  U.S. competitors Chris Hedquist (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, N.Y.) had first run times of 55.34 and 55.53 respectively, placing them in ninth and 11th after the first heat.

  “There was heavier snow fall for about ten minutes during the race,” Sands said. “Caleb and Chris took their runs during that time, so they were affected by the snow.”

  Japanese slider Masaru Inada slid the fastest run of the second heat with a 55.44, moving him up seven places in the standings from his first heat position of tenth into third.  Inada’s improved second heat wasn’t enough to catch the Americans Lund and Bernotas.  Lund finished with a combined time of 1:50.96 to claim the silver, while Bernotas finished with a total 1:50.64 to take the gold medal.

  Hedquist maintained his ninth position, finishing with a combined time of 1:51.65 (55.34, 56.31).  Struggling with the snow in his second heat, Smith finished in thirteenth position with a total time of 1:52.09 (55.52, 56.57).

  “Our goal was to come to Nagano and have a great performance so that we could relax a bit next week in Igls,” said Sands. “Once again, it was a strong showing for team USA.”

  After today’s results, Bernotas has moved into second overall World Cup standings, while Lund continues to lead.

  The team will travel to Igls, Austria tomorrow for the next stop on the World Cup tour.

  For complete results of today’s race, please visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT).

  Results:

  1. Eric Bernotas (USA) 1:50.64 (54.74, 55.90); 2. Zach Lund (USA) 1:50.96 (54.89, 56.07); 3. Masaru Inada (JPN) 1:51.04 (55.44, 55.60); 4. Anthony Sawyer (GBR) 1:51.10 (54.94, 56.16); 5. Adam Pengilly (GBR) 1:51.24 (54.81, 56.43); 6. Kazuhiro Koshi (JPN) 1:51.26 (54.99, 56.27);…9. Chris Hedquist (USA) 1:51.65 (55.34, 56.31);…13. Caleb Smith (USA) 1:52.09 (55.52, 56.57);

  Uhlaender and Bernotas win U.S. Skeleton National Championships

PARK CITY, Utah- Current World Cup leader Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) and World Cup slider Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) each won their fourth U.S. Skeleton National Championship title this morning at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah.  Snowing consistently throughout the day, six inches covered the ground causing slow start times in the first heat.

Uhlaender and 2005 World Cup Champion Noelle Pikus-Pace (Orem, Utah) were tied in the first heat with a time of 54.02, making the second run a race for the title.  Pikus-Pace slid a second run of 52.78, for a total of 1:46.80. Uhlaender finished her second run with a 52.43, giving her a combined time of 1:46.45, winning the title by 0.35 seconds over a 16 competitor women's field.

In third was Rebecca Sorensen (Fort Collins, Colo.) with a 1:48.04 (54.88, 53.16), with World Cup slider Courtney Yamada (Boise, Idaho) in fourth with a 1:48.21 (55.19, 53.02). 

On the men's side, Bernotas won the competition with a combined time of 1:42.80 (51.71, 51.09), easily finishing in first place with a 0.39 second lead over the 17 competitors in the men's field.  Despite the snowy conditions, Bernotas was able to find a clear line down the track to claim the title.

"First run I knew I had to go with it, be smart, and take a chance.  It worked out for me, " Bernotas said.  "I had great vision on the second run, and I was able to see where I needed to go."

Finishing in second with a total of 1:43.19 (52.19, 51.00) was current World Cup leader Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah), who won the gold medal in the Park City World Cup in December.  America's Cup slider Matt Antoine (Prairie du Chien, Wis.) won a bronze medal with times of 51.08 and 51.78 for a combined time of 1:43.58. 

John Daly (Smithtown, N.Y.) had two fourth-place runs of 52.78 and 51.78 for a total of 1:44.55, earning him a fourth place finish in the competition.  In fifth was Adam Donahoo (Sandy, Utah) with a 1:44.71 (52.84, 51.87).  Rounding out the top six was World Cup slider Chris Hedquist (Salt Lake City, Utah), with a combined time of 1:44.94 (53.47, 51.47).

RESULTS:

Women:
1. Katie Uhlaender 1:46.45 (54.02, 52.43); 2. Noelle Pikus-Pace 1:46.80 (54.02, 52.78); 3. Rebecca Sorensen 1:48.04 (54.88, 53.16); 4. Courtney Yamada 1:48.21 (55.19, 53.02); 5. Annie O'Shea 1:48.64 (55.56, 53.08); 6. Keslie Tomlinson 1:48.75 (54.44, 54.31); 7. Katie Koczynski (Nyack, N.Y.) 1:49.09 (55.35, 55.74); 8. Linda Cise (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1:49.39 (55.52, 53.87); 9. Jessica Palmer (Roy, Utah) 1:49.52 (55.31, 54.21); 10. Leah Ford (Sterling, N.Y.) 1:49.61 (54.95, 54.66); 11. Felicia Canfield (Park City, Utah) 1:50.05 (55.44, 54.62); 12. Cassie Revelli 1:50.70 (56.35, 54.35); 13. Kimber Gabrysak (Park City, Utah) 1:52.10 (57.10, 55.00); 14. Sarah Moffit (Park City, Utah) 1:52.96 (57.61, 55.35); 15. Joan Andrews (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1:54.76 (59.00, 55.76); 16. Angie Stakus (Mendon, Mass.), 1:58.03 (1:00.58, 57.45);

Men:
1. Eric Bernotas 1:42.80 (51.71, 51.09); 2. Zach Lund 1:43.19 (52.19, 51.00); 3. Matt Antoine  1:43.58 (51.80, 51.78); 4. John Daly 1:44.56 (52.78, 51.78); 5. Adam Donahoo 1:44.71 (52.84, 51.87); 6. Chris Hedquist 1:44.94 (53.47, 51.47); 7. Stokes Aitken (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1:44.96 (52.91, 52.05); 8. Kyle Tress (Trenton, N.J.) 1:45.23 (53.02, 52.21); 9. Matt Revelli (Highland, Utah) 1:44.40 (53.05, 52.35); 10. Chris Burgess (Glen Gardner, N.J.) 1:45.56 (53.14, 52.42); 11. Steve Mayer (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1:46.04 (52.70, 52.34); 12. Brad Stewart (Park City, Utah) 1:47.33 (54.49, 52.84); 13. Dakota Hyde (Ogden, Utah) 1:48.61 (55.46, 53.15); 14. Chris Nurre (    Seven Hills, Ohio) 1:48.69 (55.13, 53.56); 15. Ryan Wrisley (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) 1:50.34 (56.34, 54.00); 16. Allen Blackwell (Jackson Miss.) 1:51.03 (57.20, 53.83); 17. Phillip Goodwin (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) (58.67, DNS);

• Americans dominate in World Cup skeleton competition

  December 16, 2006
  LAKE PLACID — On an unlikely day for speed, the United States women's skeleton team contributed to a new track record Friday as the Lake Placid Cup — the third stop on the FIBT Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup Tour — opened on Mt. Van Hoevenberg.
  
  With unseasonably warm weather in the Adirondack Mountains, Katie Uhlaender set a track mark of 56.30 seconds in the first heat and added a start record of 5.25 seconds in the afternoon run. The combination of the two led to her third straight victory of the World Cup season and a commanding overall lead. Uhlaender, a 2006 Winter Olympian, defeated teammate Noelle Pikus-Pace with Switzerland's Maya Pedersen third.
  
  Uhlaender's two runs totaled 1 minute, 53.42 seconds.
  
  "I just show up to throw down and not worry about what everyone else is doing," said Uhlaender, who contemplated retirement after the Torino Winter Games. "At the Olympics, my parents helped me with my attitude. Now I try to control what I can control. That makes it easy when all you have to do is go down the track."
  
  Pikus-Pace, returning from a serious non-sport injury, shared the track record as did Michelle Kelly of Canada, who stumbled in the second leg and tied for fourth.
  
  "I think the track record would have been faster if we didn't make some mistakes," stated Pikus-Pace. "We had great ice and that's because of the track crew. They did a fantastic job."
  
  The runner-up also had the support of her family after a bizarre track injury last fall when a bobsled ran into her in Calgary.
  
  "I lost some of the confidence after the injury," said the 2005 World Cup champion. "I've been trying to listen to the positive thoughts. I'm okay with second place but it gives me something to work on the rest of the season." Pikus-Pace had a combined time of 1:53.50. Pedersen posted 1:53.69.
  
  American men finish 1-2-3
  The American men also dominated their home track as the U.S. swept the medals and placed all four sliders in the top five.
  
  Zach Lund earned his second straight World Cup win and took the overall lead in the standings by posting times of 55.15 seconds and 56.27 for a combined 1:51.42.
  
  "Getting that first win is hard, but once you get it, it keeps coming," said Lund. "This is a tough, technical track. The turns are tight and abrupt. We're lucky to have it as a home track."
  
  Hometown slider Caleb Smith earned his first World Cup medal with a second-place finish of 1:51.99.
  
  "To get my first medal here and in front of my parents is something very special," said Smith after his mother, Lisa, sang the National Anthem during the award ceremony.
  
  Teammate Eric Bernotas had a time of 1:52.18 to take third for the U.S. sweep.

   

• Inaugural Heisman Trophy Humanitarian Award Presented to U.S. Olympic Speedskater Joey Cheek 

  Colorado Springs, Colo. & New York, N.Y. – The Heisman Trophy Trust and United States Olympic Committee announced today that two-time Olympian and 2006 Olympic gold and silver medalist Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) has been named the recipient of the inaugural Heisman Humanitarian Award.   Cheek will be presented with the award on Dec. 11 at the Heisman Awards Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in New York, N.Y. in conjunction with the award presentation of the 72^nd Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy.

  After winning gold in the 500m and a silver in the 1000m in long track speedskating at the XX Olympic Winter Games in February 2006, Cheek selflessly donated his $40,000 in performance earnings ($25,000 for gold and $15,000 for silver) to the organization, Right To Play, earmarked for Darfurian refugees.  Right To Play is a non-governmental humanitarian organization that uses sport and play to aid in the development of children in disadvantaged areas of the world.  

  “We are both proud and pleased to name Joey Cheek the recipient of the first Heisman Humanitarian Award, and to make a $25,000 contribution in Joey’s name to Right to Play. This contribution will be specifically earmarked to assist Joey’s mission,” said William Dockery, President of The Heisman Trophy Trust. “The Heisman feels a sense of pride and satisfaction for the role it has recently assumed in providing opportunities to underserved and underrepresented youth. One Hundred (100%) percent of the net proceeds from the Trust's endeavors are dedicated to charitable purposes. The Heisman goal is to symbolize, and thereby encourage, a sense of community responsibility and service to those less fortunate and/or afflicted.” 

  Cheek’s generosity inspired others to contribute thousands of dollars to the organization.  As a result of his humanitarianism and exemplary behavior, he was elected by his peers to carry the American flag during the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. His actions and challenge to corporations around the globe to provide assistance has generated more than $500,000 for Darfur.  Cheek has gone on to form his own non-profit organization, ‘Where Will We Be?’ (www.wherewillwebe.org) whose mission is to assist those in the Darfur region of Sudan.   

   “The U.S. Olympic Committee is extremely proud of Joey and his exemplary acts to better the lives of others,” said U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr.  “He is a shining example of an athlete that utilizes his status as an Olympian to affect positive change through the promotion of the Olympic Ideals and the mission of the Olympic Movement.  His generosity and fortitude are worthy of being named the first recipient of this prestigious award.”

   “Every time I receive a blessing, I look at it as an incredible opportunity to help someone else.  This award is a huge honor, but even more important is the chance it gives me to speak out for those with no voice.  And even though I am a speedskater, and this is a humanitarian award, I cannot lie – when I heard I would be receiving it – I did some Heisman poses around my living room,” said Cheek.

   In addition to his humanitarian work with Where Will We Be? and Right To Play, Cheek also works with the Save Darfur Coalition, a group which raises public awareness about the sufferings of the two million people in Darfur.  An outspoken leader, Cheek has participated in major international events including the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative and the 2006 World AIDS conference.   He has been a guest speaker at the United Nations, numerous universities across the country and at major public rallies in both Washington D.C. and New York City.

   A three-time Olympic medalist (2002/bronze, 2006/gold and silver) and reigning World Champion, Cheek has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the Year and is a finalist for Sports Illustrated’s 2006 Sportsman of the Year. He was the recipient of the 2006 DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit Award, 2006 Eric Heiden Skater of the Year Award and the 2006 National Sportsmanship Award.  Cheek’s humanitarian efforts to resolve the Darfur conflict will be chronicled in an upcoming television series by MTV Network’s mtvU.  He will attend Princeton University to study economics in the fall of 2007.

   The Heisman Trophy Trust assumed the stewardship of The Heisman Trophy and its operation due to the unfortunate demise of the Downtown Athletic Club post 9/11.  The Trust is responsible for the preservation, protection, enhancement and integrity of the trophy.  The stewardship of the Heisman Trophy by the Trust increases exponentially the ability of the Heisman to contribute to charitable purposes. For more information about The Heisman or for tickets to the awards dinner please visit www.Heisman.com.

   

• Benshoof Takes Bronze in Challenge Cup - PARK CITY, Utah --- USA Luge’s Erin Hamlin (Remsen, N.Y.) raced to the women’s singles silver medal, while Tony Benshoof (White Bear Lake, Minn.) captured the men’s singles bronze medal in Friday’s, Dec. 1, luge Challenge Cup series opener held in Park City, Utah.
  
  On her way to her first-career senior individual medal and a face-off against Germany’s two-time Olympic champion, Sylke Otto, Hamlin eliminated Ukrainian Natalia Yakushenko and Switzerland’s Martina Kocher in the opening round, before sliding past Austria’s Nina Reithmayer in the semi-finals. In the medal round, the 20-year-old slid to a single heat time of 44.533 seconds, .436 seconds behind Otto, who won her 19th-career Challenge Cup race in a time of 44.097.
  
  “This feels great, I had a pretty good week of training and things kind of fell together today,” said Hamlin, a 2006 Olympian. “I had three solid runs and I hope that this is the start to something more.”
  
  Germany’s Silke Kraushaar-Pielach won the bronze medal by recording a faster time than Reithmayer in the semi-finals
  
  Hamlin’s 2006 Olympic team teammate, Courtney Zablocki (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), could not get out of her opening round match-up against Kraushaar-Pielach and Ukrainian Liliya Ludan and finished 12th.
  
  Benshoof, who captured last season’s overall men’s singles Challenge Cup silver medal, was awarded bronze after Latvia’s Martins Rubenis, who had finished third, was disqualified for an equipment infraction. Benshoof, a two-time Olympian, reached the race’s second round with an opening-heat victory over Austria’s Martin Abentung, Canada’s Sam Edney and Italy’s Wilfried Huber. In the semi-finals, Benshoof fell to Russia’s Albert Demtschenko, who lost to Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler in the finals. Demtschenko clocked a one-heat time of 46.000, while Zoeggeler, the two-time Olympic champion, stopped the clock in 45.459.
  
  Italy’s Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber won Friday’s doubles title. The pair faced Austria’s Andreas Linger and Wolfgang Linger in the finals and clocked a single heat time of 43.696, while the Lingers stopped the clock at 43.744. Germany’s Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch captured bronze.
  
  USA Luge’s Mark Grimmette (Muskegon, Mich.) and Brian Martin (Palo Alto, Calif.) fell in their second round match-up with the Lingers and finished fourth overall.

• Joe Cheek Update - October, 2006

  With the summer of ’06 disappearing in the rear view mirror, the snowball of momentum gold medalist Joey Cheek began at the Olympic Games in February continues to grow. In late July, Cheek was honored on Fox Sports at the 40th Annual Victor Awards in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was then named one of the US Junior Chamber’s ‘Ten Outstanding Young Americans’ and has been invited to be part of the Heisman Trophy presentation ceremonies to be held in early December.

  In August, Joey spoke about his work in Zambia, Africa with Right To Play (www.righttoplay.com) at The XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada. He then moved on to three high profile events in New York City; speaking at the United Nations on 9/8, in front of 30 thousand people at the Voices to End Genocide concert in Central Park on 9/17 and finally at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) on 9/20-22. The CGI was the standout event on Cheek’s calendar since being crowned Olympic Champion in Turin.

  “Reading through the list of attendees at the CGI is both an inspiring and intimidating task. I was flattered to be included and determined to make the most of a very real opportunity to make a difference in the world. The CGI was the catalyst to the creation of, and most certainly the launching point of my ‘Where Will We Be?’ campaign. I sincerely hope everyone will take a moment to review a brief summary of the program online at www.wherewillwebe.org .” - Joey Cheek

  The Clinton Global Initiative is a non-partisan catalyst for action, bringing together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. At the event Cheek presented a self-founded initiative to utilize an international coalition of elite athletes to take action and end the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. In a surprise announcement at the closing session of the CGI, Cheek was called to the stage by President Clinton where together they signed a public letter of commitment to see this program come to fruition (view Cheek meeting with President Clinton online through this link, cue the video to 1:22:00: http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=1896

  An ever growing list of speaking engagement requests in the upcoming months includes Brown University, Swarthmore, John’s Hopkins and the U.S. Army. However, the one speaking engagement that stood out among all others was Cheek’s October 3rd visit to Harvard University.

  “There’s no ducking the irony that those Crimson folks rejected my application to become a student and then turned around and asked me to come and address those who would have been my classmates and faculty. Nevertheless, Darfur is a critical issue that needs everyone’s attention so I welcomed the opportunity to participate and applaud the efforts Harvard is making to address this crisis.” -J.C.

  Cheek recently formed a partnership with Market America, based in his hometown of Greensboro, NC on the release of a new line of vitamins, Champion Blend, that will bear Cheek’s image (www.speedanddelivery.com ). A portion of all sales will go to the Joey Cheek Community Fund (Cheek’s foundation) earmarked for Right To Play.

  Finally, in early November Cheek is schedule to return to Africa to visit Ethiopia and Chad with the International Red Cross and Red Crescents Movement. In Chad, Cheek will observe the humanitarian work being carried out by the Red Cross for Sudanese/Darfuri refugees.

   

• Save Darfur Coalition Rally in New York’s Central Park to Call for U.N. Peacekeepers

  Suzanne Vega, Former Canadian Minister of Justice to Join Madeleine Albright, O.A.R., Lupe Fiasco and Big & Rich in international call to stop genocide in Darfur

  WHAT:            
  
  "Save Darfur Now: Voices to Stop Genocide,” will bring together musicians, celebrities, activists, faith leaders and key decision makers to
  call for world leaders to take immediate and clear action to end the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Coinciding with a meeting of the 61st United Nations General Assembly, the rally will be the centerpiece event in a global day of action. More information is available at www.savedarfur.org/now.

  WHO:             
  
  MUSICAL PERFORMANCES BY:

  • O.A.R.
  • Suzanne Vega
  • Lupe Fiasco
  • Big & Rich
  • Berklee College of Music Ensemble     

  SPEAKERS (Note: Additional speakers and entertainers expected to be announced)

  • Dr. Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State
  • Dr. Irwin Cotler, former Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General     
  • Joey Cheek, 2006 Olympic gold-medalist speed skater
  • Jeff Johnson, BET, Hip Hop 4 Darfur
  • Joe Madison, host, “The Black Eagle” radio show
  • Larry Cox, executive director, Amnesty International USA     
  • Rabbi Steve Gutow, executive director, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
  • Imam al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid, The Mosque Of The Islamic Brotherhood
  • Representatives from 11 national Darfuri organizations     
  • John Prendergast, senior advisor, International Crisis Group
  • Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, MD, chairwoman, Million Voices for Darfur campaign
  • David Rubenstein, coordinator, Save Darfur Coalition    

• MARKET AMERICA INKS DEAL WITH GOLD-MEDALIST JOEY CHEEK
  AUGUST 1, 2006 GREENSBORO, N.C. (Aug. 1, 2006) – Joey Cheek, gold-medal Olympic speed skater, will become the next champion to appear on Market America’s Isotonix® Champion Blend. The new product partnership will be announced by Market America at its annual 2006 International Convention, to take place August 3-6, 2006, at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.
  
  Cheek became America’s first multiple medal winner in the 2006 Winter Games held in Torino, Italy by taking the gold in the 500 meter and silver in the 1000 meter.
  
  In honor of Cheek and his accomplishments, Market America will donate to Right to Play, a portion of all sales of Champion Blend and Isotonix Might-A-Mins®, a children’s multivitamin. Right to Play is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sports and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. After winning his medals Cheek gave his entire $40,000 medal bonus to Right to Play and continues to help the organization.
  
  On Friday, August 4, Market America founders JR and Loren Ridinger will introduce Cheek and the new products live on-stage, in front of a capacity audience of 20,000 distributors, in attendance from the U.S., Canada, Australia and Taiwan, over the four days.
  
  “Isotonix Champion Blend is an amazing product that has helped other world-class athletes compete at high levels,” said Cheek. “I’m proud to be associated with this product and Market America. I have been blessed with an athletic gift that has helped me make a difference for so many people around the world. Market America’s willingness to donate a portion of the sales of Champion Blend and Isotonix Might-A-Mins will help continue the mission of Right to Play all over the world.”
  
  The Isotonix Champion Blend is a 15-day supply of six different Isotonix products: OPC-3, ORAC, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-12, Mineral Blast and MultiTech. The blend provides 97 essential vitamins and minerals that can help boost performance and overall health.
  
  Isotonix Champion Blend is available exclusively through Market America’s independent distributors. To find a local distributor, visit marketamerica.com or call (800) 862-6561.
  
  ABOUT MARKET AMERICA
  Market America’s unique business model combines the power of the Internet and One-to-One Marketing to sell innovative products and services through independent distributors around the world. Founded in 1992, the company has realized more than $2.1 billion in suggested retail sales. The company now has more than 125,000 independent distributors worldwide. In 2005, the company opened operations in Taiwan and plans further expansion into the Pacific Rim. More information is available at www.marketamerica.com.
  
  # # #

• Joey Cheek Update - July '06

  July, 2006 – When we last left off with Olympic Champion Joey Cheek in late April he was on his way to the White House Correspondents Dinner and preparing his keynote address for the Rally to Stop Genocide hosted by the Save Darfur Coalition.  As the Rally’s closing speaker, Cheek addressed his largest audience to date, estimated at over 50,000 people.  He was joined  by Hollywood’s George Clooney, country music’s Big & Rich and a host of political and spiritual leaders from across the country. Within days of the rally’s conclusion new peace treaties were signed by rebel groups in the Sudan.

   “The new peace agreements are undoubtedly a huge step in the right direction, but let’s not be fooled into thinking this crisis is behind us. I’m optimistic that this news marks a turning point for the people of Darfur, but I am realistic in knowing that there is still a long way to go.  We must continue to push the issue of Darfur until its people can rest with a similar sense of peace the we American’s so often take for granted. “    - Joey Cheek 

  The following week Cheek was honored in NY City by Time Magazine being name to their list of the  ‘100 Most Influential People in the World.’  The evening saw Cheek spending time with fellow honorees Senator John McCain, Katie Couric, Wynton Marsalis, Stephen Colbert and George Lucas.

  “To recently be included in the company of champion athletes all of different sports has been a flattering after-shock of my success at the Olympics.  To be included in the company of champions from all different walks of life, from all over the planet, is somewhat overwhelming.  And of course, to be at a private Paul Simon (who performed) concert, well that’s just cool.”  - J.C. 

  Next Cheek was back to the White House, this time to be honored with all of his fellow US Olympians for a few days of pomp and circumstance before be addressed by President Bush. 

  “We appreciate Joey Cheek, who won the Gold and then turned around and donated $40,000 to help the refugee children of Sudan.  What a wonderful example for all of us here in America to know that with our personal victories comes the responsibility of helping those who suffer and those who need help.”   President Bush, May 17, 2006 

  The end of May brought with it Cheek’s final, and much anticipated decision on where he will attend college.  After a widely publicized snub from Harvard followed by acceptances from Stanford, Yale, Columbia and others it was Princeton who won out.

   “I’m not sure how my college admission became such a big deal, but I’m excited and relieved to have selected Princeton.  I was able to visit the campus a few months ago and was both by its magnificence as well as the welcome I was greeted with by both the administrators and students whom I was able to spend time with.” 

  Last week Cheek was honored with the National Sportsmanship Award, hosted this year by the St. Louis Sports Commission.  NBC’s Bob Costas was the guest MC who interviewed Cheek on stage before presenting the award.  

  “It was a fabulous event with plenty of very deserving honorees there, all of whom have done some remarkable things in the wake of their own athletic success.  And, having Bob Costas captured on stage with me gave me a chance to give him some public good natured ribbing for blowing my chances of getting into Harvard.  It was a great evening, lots of fun.” 

  Finally, last weekend Cheek was recognized at the 21^st annual Cedars Siani Sports Spectacular in Los Angeles where over 1.6 million dollars was raised during the evening.  The event was a star studded who’s who of sports legends and entertainers who turn out annually in support of the hospitals work in the research and  treatment of genetic disorders. 

  “Kobe, Jerome ‘The Bus’ Bettis, LL Cool J, Snoop Dog and Joey Cheek – let’s just say my life is very different now than I ever imagined it would or could be.  It’s all great fun and the opportunity to contribute any way I can to worthy causes such as this one is something I’m always happy to do.”

  ###

   

• TIME 100: The People Who Shape Our World - From Time Magazine | Heroes & Pioneers (read it at Time Magazine here)

  Joey Cheek

  The Speedskater With a Heart of Gold

  By DAN JANSEN
  Posted Sunday, Apr. 30, 2006
  Call me old-fashioned. Or just call me old (I'll be 41 this year). But my philosophy toward sports is a cliche: it isn't so much the result that makes me proud of an athlete or a performance; it's the effort. It's how an athlete handles wins and losses. It's attitude. And it's about understanding that being great at a sport doesn't make you a great person.

  I am proud of Joey Cheek. Sure, I am proud of his accomplishments on the ice. He had a dream season this year, winning a world sprint championship and two Olympic medals, a gold in the 500 m and a silver in the 1,000 m in Torino. I am proud that he won these medals in my sport of speedskating. But what Cheek did upon winning his Olympic medals is what makes me most proud.

  Cheek, 26, donated his $40,000 in bonus money ($25,000 for gold and $15,000 for silver) to an organization called Right to Play, which helps kids in the war-torn, poverty-stricken countries in Africa. Corporate-matched donations have multiplied that into hundreds of thousands of dollars. So many sports figures dominate the headlines for the wrong reasons. Many parents have been waiting for a worthy role model their kids can look up to. Need we look further?

  The 1,000-m Olympic gold medalist in '94, Jansen has held eight speedskating world records

   

• Olympic Speed Skating Champion Joey Cheek to Speak at “SAVE DARFUR: Rally to Stop Genocide” in Washington, DC on April 30

  Washington, DC - Olympic speed skating Gold and Silver Medalist Joey Cheek, who donated his $40,000 U.S. Olympic Committee bonus to benefit the children in genocide-ravaged Darfur, Sudan, announced today that he will speak at the “SAVE DARFUR: Rally to Stop Genocide” in Washington, DC on April 30. Cheek, who attended a Republican National Gala event with President Bush on Thursday night, made the announcement today at the non-partisan Center for National Policy during a briefing on the conflict in Darfur by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi recently led a bi-partisan congressional delegation to Darfur and delivered the delegation’s report to President Bush and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
  
  “President Bush has taken the morally correct action by asking Congress to provide emergency supplemental funding to fortify the badly under-manned and under-funded African Union peacekeeping forces, but it’s going to take more than money to solve this crisis,” said Cheek. “As compassionate Americans, we all have a moral responsibility to publicly speak out and tell our leaders that genocide is unacceptable any time, any place. The Rally to Stop Genocide is a rare opportunity for all of us to join together and deliver that unequivocal message.”
  
  The rally will conclude a 21,000 mile, 22-city photo exhibit and speaking “Tour for Darfur: Eyewitness to Genocide” to urge the Bush administration to take all the necessary steps to end the genocide and build a lasting peace in the Darfur region of western Sudan, and on Congress to provide the resources necessary to do so. The tour’s featured speaker is Brian Steidle, a former Marine captain and U.S. representative to the African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Darfur from September 2004 to February 2005 (www.SaveDarfur.org/Steidle).
  
  “Joey Cheek’s extraordinary generosity exponentially raised international awareness about the innocent men, women and children who are suffering and dying in Darfur every day we fail to take the actions necessary to end the violence,” said Steidle. “While most Americans don’t have the resources to match Joey’s donation, they can emulate his Olympic spirit by participating in the ‘Save Darfur’ rally and the ‘Million Voices for Darfur’ postcard campaign to urge President Bush and Congress to lead the world in halting this three-year genocide.”
  
  The goal of the “Million Voices for Darfur” campaign is to generate one million postcards to President Bush urging him to use the power of his office to fulfill his February 17 pledge to support a stronger multi-national force to protect the Darfuri people. Anyone can send an electronic version of this postcard in just a few seconds by visiting www.MillionVoicesForDarfur.org. The postcards will be hand delivered to Washington, DC during the “SAVE DARFUR: Rally to Stop Genocide.”
  
  Since February 2003, an estimated 300,000+ people have died in Darfur as a result of what the President and Congress recognized in 2004 to be genocide sponsored by the Sudanese government and perpetrated by its Janjaweed militia allies, with 3.5 million dependent on foreign aid for their survival and 2 million people forced by violence to live in make-shift camps.
   

April 20, 2006 – After spending a week in Africa participating in Right To Play (www.righttoplay.com) sponsored programs for the children of Lusaka, Zambia Olympic Champion Joey Cheek had little time to catch his breath before embarking on his next mission, a collegiate speaking tour aimed at raising awareness of the genocide taking place in Darfur. In between getting off the plane on Sunday and the tour’s first stop at NY University on Monday Cheek made the NY City media rounds with stops at CBS, ABC, FOX, CNN, ESPN and others, all the while with a camera crew from his new mtvU show, 'Joey Cheek Goes to College’ in tow.  Catching up on unopened mail, Cheek’s college acceptance list now includes Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Duke, Columbia, NYU, Georgetown and UNC with decision day looming on the not so distant horizon. 

 

“When I won the gold medal in Torino, I expected my life to be busy for a while, but I never imagined things could be as hectic as they are now. I’ve had so many amazing experiences since the Olympics that it’s hard to believe it was only two months ago,” said Cheek.

 

Cheek joined twelve-time Olympic medalist Jenny Thompson with the international humanitarian organization Right To Play in Lusaka, Zambia in an effort to educate children of the growing HIV-AIDS epidemic that is devastating their country.

 

“Having witnessed the work that Right To Play is doing on the ground in Africa, and being part of it for even a short time, I’m more inspired than ever to do what I can to help further their efforts.  Children everywhere deserve the chance to play and to simply be children.  Right To Play is making that happen.”

 

Particularly concerned with the growing crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan, Cheek has embarked on a two week collegiate speaking tour, sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition (www.savedarfur.org),  to address the calamity. Cheek will visit NYU, Yale, UNC-Charlotte, UVA, Maryland, VA Tech and George Washington before culminating with his keynote address at The Rally to Stop Genocide on the Mall in Washington, DC on Sunday, April 30.  Tens of thousands of people of conscience are anticipated to attend.  The goal is to raise public pressure on the Bush administration to end the genocide and build a lasting peace in Darfur, and on Congress to provide the necessary resources to do so.  

“Darfur was and is my primary area of concern.  It’s inconceivable that genocide is still taking place in the world today, but it is.  The Save Darfur Coalition has been working tirelessly for years to shed light on this worldwide travesty. We can all do something, be it donate, attend the rally or simply send in a postcard as part of the Million Voices Campaign.” (www.millionvoicesfordarfur.org) remarked Cheek.

Joining Cheek on his speaking tour, throughout the process of college enrollment and on to campus life will be mtvU, MTV's 24 hour college channel, broadcast to more than 730 colleges and nearly seven million students across the country (www.mtvU.com).  Joey Cheek Goes to College will debut with 6 episodes in the fall.  A sneek preview of the show will premiere on demand on mtvU's broadband channel, mtvU Über at mtvU.com, on May 1st. 

“I certainly never thought a speedskater from North Carolina would ever be fodder for reality TV, but here I am.  I prefer to call this edu-TV as it’s my hope, that in addition to having some fun we’ll be able to shed some light on important worldwide issues, like Darfur, to students across the country.”

The burning question for Cheek is now the final decision on which college acceptance he’ll accept. With no shortage of top tier schools rolling out the red carpet and mtvU chronicling nearly every moment the aspiring undergrad is on the hot-seat.

“I’m blessed to have been admitted to such great schools and I suppose in the end I really can’t lose.  Unfortunately, that thought still doesn’t help me make what I consider to be the most important decision of my life thus far. Dare I say, ‘tune in to the first episode’ to see where I’ll be calling home for the next few years because at this point I still don’t know.”

 

 

###

• JOEY CHEEK DAY RAISES $300,000.00

   

  Olympic Champion Joey Cheek’s March 23rd return to his hometown of Greensboro, NC was marked by a daylong celebration in honor of his on-ice performance at last month’s Olympic Games and his ongoing off-ice commitment to helping his fellow man.
   
  Cheek’s homecoming began with a surprise presentation of a 2006 Corvette, trimmed appropriately in gold, and culminated with a fireworks display fit for a Fourth of July celebration.  The local hero was honored by everyone from his former middle school to Senators, Congressman and Representatives. The day saw the establishment of The Joey Cheek International Scholarship Fund and The Joey Cheek Charitable Fund.  Greensboro rolled out the red carpet with billboards honoring Cheek around the city and a daylong police escort of the Cheek caravan. In an ongoing tribute to Cheek’s unending commitment to giving back, the Greensboro community set out to match his own Olympic donation of $40,000.00 for Right to Play (www.righttoplay.com).  By day's end, the final tally was nearly $300,000, a testament to the generosity of Joey’s hometown. Of that total, $40,000 will match Cheek’s Right to Play donation, almost $130,000 will go to The Joey Cheek Charitable Fund and a $130,000 Greensboro College scholarship was presented.
   
   
  “I’m seldom at a loss for words” said Cheek.  “But more than once during the day I was overwhelmed.  Being handed the key to a brand new Corvette was, well, a shocking way to kick things off.  But what really left me a bit dumbfounded was to hear the final dollar amount raised to help others, both here and around the world who so desperately need our assistance.  I always knew this community was something special and it certainly proved it today.”
   
  Cheek began the day on WFMY’s (CBS) Good Morning Show, where he was caught off guard, but on-air, with the presentation of a new 2006 Corvette, courtesy of local dealer Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac.
   
  “Joey Cheek, like the Chevy Corvette, is an American icon.  Joey’s performance at the Olympics, both on and off the ice, was that of a high performance machine wrought with integrity and class. He deserves a Corvette and we’re proud to see him in it,” said Bill Black, owner of Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac. 
   
  Cheek proceeded to celebrations in his honor at his alma maters Aycock Middle School and Dudley High School, the latter of which has now raised a banner honoring their famous alum to the rafters of the school gymnasium. He moved on to The Joey Cheek Charitable Fund Luncheon where over 500 guests paid $20 a head to spend a few minutes with their local hero. Greensboro College presented Cheek with the first annual Joey Cheek International Scholarship Fund that will allow Joey to present a four year scholarship, inclusive of all expenses, to the student of his choosing from the Darfur region of the Sudan, Cheek’s primary area of charitable concern. Cheek was also presented with checks totaling $80,000 - $40,000 for the Right to Play charity and another $40,000 for youth programs in Greensboro. The money was raised by three Greensboro non-profits - the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, and the United Way of Greater Greensboro – in honor of Cheek’s accomplishments. The afternoon’s program saw Cheek moved to tears for the first time since he stood atop the podium at the Olympics Games and was capped off by a live auction that fetched hundreds of dollars for Cheek autographed baseball caps and thousands of dollars for a few minutes of riding shotgun with Cheek in his new Corvette.
   
  “Since the Olympics, my life has been a whirlwind,” said Cheek. “I’ve been running from city to city, literally not in the same place for more than 48 hours at a stretch and often not that long.  I guess I just hadn’t had time to take it all in and for a few minutes on stage today, the last five weeks hit me.  I would never have achieved what I did without the support of countless people, and many of those people still call Greensboro home.  I’m so proud to say that I do too.”
   
  Next it was off to a press conference where the Greensboro Jaycees suprised Cheek with a $10,000.00 contribution to the new fund before proceeding to a Greensboro Chamber of Commerce reception where Cheek spoke to nearly 600 community leaders.  During the event, the African Services Coalition presented Cheek with the dressings of a Sudanese warrior.
   
  “When a hero from outside the tribe does something extraordinary the chief gives him the warrior dress and he will always be known as their hero. By having our national dress, this tells the whole world that he is our hero,” said Director Omer Omer.
   
  Cheek then moved on to First Horizon Park, home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, for a citywide celebration that featured on-field honors from Mayor Keith Holliday, the Dudley High School band, celebratory videos of his road to Olympic gold and remarks from his former skating coach and parents.  An elaborate fireworks display lit up the Carolina night in a closing tribute to Greensboro’s hometown hero.
   
  The following morning Cheek filmed a Chevrolet/Cadillac television commercial before departing for events in Washington, DC.  This week he will resume his US speaking tour with events in Las Vegas, Orlando, Washington and Palm Springs.
   
  For information about Joey Cheek visit: www.QSPORTS.net 
   
  -----------------------------------------------
   
  Joey Cheek extends a heartfelt thank you to the collaborative efforts of the Greensboro Sports Commission, Action Greensboro, Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac, the City of Greensboro, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, Guilford County Schools, Greater Greensboro Merchant’s Association, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Greensboro College, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Greensboro Sports Council, Guilford Education Alliance, News & Record, United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, United Way of Greater Greensboro, and WFMY News 2.
   
  ###
• CHEEK DONATION EFFORTS REACH HALF-MILLION MARK
  
  3/14/06 - Chicago, IL - It has now been one month since Olympian Joey Cheek won Olympic gold in Torino, Italy. Immediately thereafter Cheek donated the  $25,000.00 prize purse (and later an additonal $15,000)  to Right To Play, an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play as a tool for the development of children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Cheek expressed particular concern with the Darfur region of the Sudan and challenged corporations and individuals around the world to take action and contribute to RTP.  Contributions to date exceed $500,000.00.  The list of corporate supporters includes; Lenovo, The Gap, Nike, Jet Set Sports, General Mills and The US Olympic Committee.  Notable individual contributions have also come from friends of the US Ski Team as well as fellow speedskaters Clara Hughes of Canada and Yang Yang (A) of China.
  
  "My hope at the Olympics was to use my moment in the spotlight to call attention to people in the world who need our help.  That said, I never imagined the response would be so overwhelming.  I'm thrilled almost beyond words.  While the Olympics are now behind me, it seems the public interest in supporting RTP and the situation in Darfur is growing with each passing day.  I sincerely hope to continue this positive momentum well into the future and I thank everyone who has stepped up and gotten involved thus far."       - Joey Cheek
  
  As the Olympic Games drew to a close Cheek was honored by his peers, being elected to carry the American flag into the closing ceremonies, and by the public at large, as he was elected the recipient of the US Olympic Committee's Spirit Award.  Joey Cheek was then bestowed the crown jewel of Olympic sports marketing when he was selected to appear on the Wheaties box.
  
  Cheek has now signed an ongoing endorsement agreement for Lenovo computers, makers of ThinkPad, and will appear on their behalf later this week in Las Vegas.  He recently completed an extensive media tour through NY City and has now embarked on a month long series of speaking engagements. 
  
  Joey Cheek will meet with President Bush later this week at the Republican National Gala, then join House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi the following day at the Center for National Policy to address the situation in Darfur.  
  
  April 8th-15th Joey will join a delegation from Right To Play on a relief mission to Zambia.  Later that month he will return to Washington, DC to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner on 4/29 and participate as a featured speaker at the Save Darfur Coalition's Rally to Stop Genocide on 4/30 - 30,000+ attendees are expected at the event.
  
  Cheek's hometown of Greensboro, NC has declared March 23rd 'Joey Cheek Day', upon which the city will welcome Cheek home for the first time since their native son became Olympic Champion.  The day long celebration will include numerous activities to honor both Cheek's accomplishments and generosity.  The community has pledged $80,000.00 to a combination of Right To Play and local youth programming charities.  Included in the day's events will be the official announcement of Greensboro College's Joey Cheek Scholarship, a four-year scholarship in Cheek's honor to be awarded to a student from the Darfur region of the Sudan. 
  
  Greensboro has also honored their local hero with the recent unveiling of a celebratory billboard featuring Joey (view the billboard here: http://www.qsports.net).

“Cheek showed what happens when the Olympic torch falls into the right hands, when it belongs to someone who will use it to illuminate the world's problems and try to solve them. It's the most surprising, enlightening news conference I've ever seen.”-  J.A. Adande L.A. Times

• Joey Cheek Olympic gold medalist - Post race press conference transcript

   Q&A: Joey Cheek after winning the Olympic 500 meters:

  Opening Statement:
  I know you guys all want to do sweet stories about Hallmark and chocolates and butterflies and all that, but I have a pretty unique experience and a pretty unique opportunity here. So I'm going to take advantage of it while I can.

  I have been blessed by competing in the Olympics in speedskating. I am grateful that my family has supported me through all of this, my coaches, my friends and my country has supported me wholeheartedly. The United States Olympic Committee has been amazing. Without their support, none of the athletes who train and compete would be able to train and compete at this level.

  I've always felt that if I ever did something big like this I wanted to be prepared to give something back. So ... I'm going to be donating the entire (Operation Gold) sum the USOC gives to me, which I think is around $25,000, I'm not sure, to the organization that Johann Olav Koss either started or gave to in 1994. And I'm going to be asking all of the Olympic sponsors that give hundreds of millions of dollars if they will also maybe match my donation to a specific project.

  So, as you know, there's been some media but not a ton, especially in the U.S., in the Darfur region of Sudan.  There has been tens and tens of thousands of people killed. My government has labeled it a genocide, and so I will be donating money specifically to refugees in Chad where there are over 60,000 children who have been displaced from their homes. And hopefully, if the region ever gets stabilized, hopefully from pressure through the United Nations or from the U.S. government or from some other agency, then we can go into Sudan and start programs for refugees there.

  For me, the Olympics have been the greatest blessing. If I retired yesterday I would have gotten everything in the world from speedskating and from competing in the Olympics. So for me to walk away today with a gold medal is amazing. And the best way to say thanks that I can think of is to help somebody else, so I'm going to be donating my money. I'm going to try and talk to the Olympic sponsors, and if there's anyone in particular in the U.S. or Europe who's going to be reading these articles, if you'd like, check out Right To Play. 

  Q1: Your mom and you became enthralled by speedskating by watching Koss perform in 1994. We were thinking it was the skating part, but could it be it's his combination of a person and athlete?
  
  CHEEK: I realized after my last Olympics that there are so many amazing athletes, and they can do amazing things. I honestly hoped, and I worked everyday that maybe I could be one of those athletes. But I wasn't sure if I was. I know that not everyone can win a gold medal, but the things that he's done for other people has been an absolute inspiration for me and he lives his life in a manner that I hope to live my life.

  It's surreal, honestly. I had coffee with him a couple days ago, and I'm sitting there looking at Johann Olaf Koss after I watched him, I guess 11, 12 years ago, win three gold medals in Lillehammer. Now I have an opportunity to do something similar. It's my hope that I can assist some people and walk in his large shoes.

  Q2: How did you get interested in this cause?
  
  CHEEK: Even before the Olympics I knew that I was gonna ... right after I won the world sprints. I thought about it for awhile. I felt, geeze, I might actually have a shot to do something at the Olympics and if I do, I want to make it meaningful. Because I knew how news cycles work, I've learned that there's a gold medalist tonight and tomorrow there's another gold medalist. So I can either take the time and gush about how wonderful I feel. Or I can use it for something productive.

  Right To Play has been around for 10 years. I was also a little bit afraid, potentially if I had chosen another cause or whatever. Right To Play has been involved in Olympians. It's athlete driven, and if I had chosen another cause, it might have taken the legs out of them a little bit. They've worked very hard, they've raised a lot of money, opened offices and opened dialogue with governments all over the world, including the United States government. They've got a great program, and I believe what they're doing will help, especially with children.

  Q3: How did you end up sitting down with Koss?
  
  CHEEK: I had gone into the Right To Play office to ask them about their organization, specifically to ask about transparency. The reason being is that I think there are a lot of organizations where 50 cents of every dollar goes to the administration, and they're not actually doing that much good. So I wanted to see firsthand their published materials.

  Again, I thought I had the chance to do this right after the world sprints, so I've been plotting a little bit in my head.

  Q4: Was the big smile on your face after your first race because of this or because of your race?
  
  CHEEK: We athletes are a superstitious group of people. I don't know how I skated that fast. I'm grateful that I did and I've always dreamt that I would skate that fast. I think on some level it is empowering to think of someone other than yourself. What I do ... I love what I do, it's a great job. I've seen the entire world and I've met amazing friends.

  It's honestly a pretty ridiculous thing. I mean, I skate around the ice on tights, right? So, if you keep it in perspective, I've trained my whole life for this. It's not that big a deal. But because I've skated well, and because I have a few seconds of microphone time, I have the ability to hopefully raise some awareness. To raise some money. And hopefully, God willing, to put some kids on a path that I've been blessed with.

  Q5: You're quitting skating after the Olympics and going to college next year. Have you decided where you're going?
  
  CHEEK: I for sure decided I'm going to school, I'm not sure who will let me in. I'm sure someone will. Well, I hope someone will (laugh). I've applied to a bunch of schools.

  Q6: You've talked about Harvard, is that a possibility?
  
  CHEEK: Well, it turns out those guys won't let me in (laughs). It's kind of a blow to the confidence, but I've been out of school for almost 10 years so they were a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to read a sentence or write my name.

  Q7: Apart from Harvard, where else did you apply. Second, have you considered going on one of the Right To Play trips?
  
  CHEEK: I applied to several of the Ivy League schools .. Columbia, ah, well, now they've all slipped my mind so I'm sure they're not going to let me in (laughter). I also applied to Stanford on the west coast, Georgetown, NYU, University of North Carolina and Duke. I applied to a bunch of them. I took the shotgun approach. Like maybe you'll hit one if you shoot a lot.

  I am absolutely planning on going. Actually I heard today, I went into the Right To Play office and talked to the people in there. I heard today that the situation in Chad is starting to destabilize, so as of right now it might not even be safe for aid workers or NGOs to go in. So it is my hope, as soon as it becomes a little more stable, that we can go in. I believe in two of the refugee villages they have Right To Play camps set up and coaches in there who are helping with health awareness and games and playing. I think there are over 60,000 children in those camps in all of them combined. I think there are six of them.

  If anyone wants to go to Africa in a couple of months, I'll be happy to take any journalist interested in going. On their own dime of course, or their papers.

  Q8: Was this once called Olympic Aid?
  
  CHEEK: It was Olympic Aid and at some point in the last few years they changed their name to Right To Play. But originally it was Olympic Aid, and it's athlete-driven. I for sure was going to do something with them regardless. They were going to let me be an athlete ambassador. We'll petition the state department for continuation of funds and more programs.

  Q9: You're donating your Operation Gold money from winning a medal, are you also donating the money you receive from sponsors?
  
  CHEEK: I'm for sure going to donate whatever the USOC gives me, and I think that's $25,000 now. I've never won a gold medal so I don't know. As far as other sponsors, I have a few. I don't have that many so I'm not going to be getting a ton of bonus money anyway. None of us are wealthy, we're still amateur athletes. I still have four years of school, and if it's an Ivy League school, what is that, a quarter million bucks these days? So, I still have to pay for school with whatever I earn from this. But absolutely, I'm going to ask every one of my sponsors to at least match what I'm donating from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

  Q10: If you medal in the 1000 will you also donate that?
  
  CHEEK: Same thing. If I win any money in the 1000 I'll do the exact same thing.

  Q11: Do you feel you had to be more prepared for this race, knowing what you were going to do with the potential winnings?
  
  CHEEK: A little risky, don't you think? I was a little concerned about it, too. I just wanted to be prepared if the stars aligned and God blessed me and gave me the races that I got. In fact, I went back and forth in my head because you have a lot of time in the Village laying in bed, looking up at the ceiling. I went back and forth many times saying, ' I don't want to jinx myself. I'm going to give it my best shot, I can help out no matter what. But if I do well, I want to have the opportunity to do this.' I was prepared for the best and if the worse had happened, I was prepared for that as well.

  Q12: In your family, do you have a history of giving? Where does this come from in you?
  
  CHEEK: My mom and dad have always tried to instill in my brother and me to be good people and to do things to help others and to try and be productive. Good intentions, we all know what the pathway to that is. You have to be smart about what you do as well. It's not just charity, it's trying to do something productive. Like athletics, you set a goal and you see it through, you try to accomplish it. My mom has always said she's more proud of what my friends say about me than any athletic accomplishment that I've ever won. That may change now with the gold medal, but...

  Q13: With such a commanding lead, what exactly were you thinking?
  
  CHEEK: I was just trying to stay relaxed. It's very dangerous for an athlete to get too easy on themselves. I knew I had a very big lead,and I knew I only had to skate an okay second race. But I wanted to make sure I didn't get too soft or too lazy because that's when you make mistakes. So I was trying to stay relaxed and focused.

  Q14: When you met Johann, how did that measure up to the image you might have had with him in the last 10 years?
  
  CHEEK: Well, I've met so many of my heros. I've met Eric Heiden. He's the greatest thing that's ever walked ... I've never met another human like that guy. He's unbelievable at everything he does. To be able to sit there and talk with (Koss), I just sort of felt ... right. I couldn't believe it. This last two or three months has been like a dream. It's so cliche. They say, 'oh I won the Olympics, it sounds like a dream.' But in the last two months, I almost broke a world record in the 1000, I won the world championships, I just won the last World Cup I skated, and now won the 500 meters in the Olympics. You just can't write this stuff (make this stuff up).

   

  HEERENVEEN, Netherlands — Joey Cheek of Greensboro earned the biggest title of his speedskating career Sunday, winningthe men’s World Sprint Championship three weeks ahead of the Winter Olympics.
  
  The former inline skater is the first American to win this event since Dan Jansen in 1988.
  
  Cheek pumped his fists with delight when he won the 500 meters in 35.09 seconds early Sunday. He beat Pekka Koskela of Finland by .15 seconds, and Yu Fengtong of China took third. Casey FitzRandolph of the United States finished fourth.
  
  In the closing 1,000 meters, a 10th-place finish was good enough to give Cheek the title He skated that race in 1 minute 10.17 seconds, half a second slower than winner Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada.
  
  Cheek, who started the day second in the points standings behind Russian Dmitry Dorofeyev, finished with 139.990 points. Dorofeyev had 140.365 in the overall standings. Jan Bos of the Netherlands finished third.
  
  Cheek took second place in both the 500 and 1,000 on Saturday, the first day of competition in the cumulative two-day event, putting himself in position to win Sunday.
  
  “It is a dream come true. I get to be in the same ranks as Eric Heiden,” Cheek said of the U.S. great who won four sprint titles in the 1970s.
  
  Cheek won a bronze medal in the 1,000 at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, and he aims to improve upon that performance in Turin. The 26-year-old will compete in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 next month in Italy.
  
  Cheek arrived in the Netherlands on Thursday, but showed little effect from the trans-Atlantic time difference.
  
  “I cannot complain about the jet lag,” he said.
  
  Cheek indicated this may be his last Olympics. He plans to retire at the end of the season to study economics.
  
  Wotherspoon won the final 1,000 in 1:09.67. Yevgeny Lalenkov of Russia was second, followed by American Shani Davis, who finished eighth in the overall standings.
  
  Two months ago, Davis set a world record in the 1,000. His sixth-place finish in the 1,000 on Saturday was his first loss in the event this World Cup season.
  
  Davis has been troubled by a sore throat and bad back since failing to make the U.S. short-track team.
  
  Dorofeyev, who finished fifth in the 500, was injured early in the season and has climbed back into contention ahead of the Olympics. He won the last two World Cup 500s and two of the last three 1,000s.
  
  Svetlana Zhurova of Russia, a 34-year-old mother in the midst of a comeback, won the 500 meters and 1,000 to capture the women’s title. Defending champion Jennifer Rodriguez of the United States finished seventh in the 1,000.

  USA Luge’s Benshoof Medals Again  by Jon Lundin - U.S. Luge Association (518-523-2071)

  
  
  
  USA Luge Wins Overall Silver in World Cup Team Competition
  
  KOENIGSSEE, Germany --- American Tony Benshoof (White Bear Lake, Minn.) raced to this fifth men’s singles luge World Cup medal of the season when he slid to silver during Saturday’s, Jan. 7, series stop in Koenigssee, Germany. Benshoof, a 2006 Olympic team nominee, captured his second consecutive second place finish, and fourth of the season, with a combined time of 1 minute, 36.160 seconds.  read the release here

  Rodriguez, Davis Win Gold at World Cup

  MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (November 26, 2005) – U.S. speedskaters accumulated more medals Saturday at the Essent ISU World Cup (Sprints).

  Six days after setting a new world record in the men’s 1000 meters, Shani Davis (Chicago, IL) won the gold medal in the same distance in 1:08.33. Joey Cheek (Greensboro, NC) slightly missed a chance to step atop the podium with his fourth place finish in 1:09.35. Home-state skater Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, WI) finished sixth in 1:09.42 and Derek Parra (San Bernardino, CA) finished 16 th in 1:10.44.

  In the same distance for the ladies, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, FL) won gold in 1:15.50 with hometown favorite Chris Witty (West Allis, WI) finishing fourth in 1:16.61. Elli Ochowicz (Menlo Park, CA) finished 19 th in 1:19.16.

  In the men’s 500 meters, three U.S. skaters finished in the top 10 with FitzRandolph leading the way with a fourth place finish in 35.31, Cheek finishing in fifth (35.32) and Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, WI) finishing eighth in 35.45. Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, WI) finished 11 th (35.51) and Davis finished in 14 th (35.71).

  Rodriguez was the top U.S. female skater in the 500 meters with a seventh place tied finish in 38.61. Ochowicz finished 20 th in 39.62.

  RESULTS:

  Ladies’ 500 meters:

  1. M. Wang CHN 38.01; 2. S. Yoshii JPN 38.36; 3. B. Wang CHN 38.41; 4. J. Wolf GER 38.42; 5. S. Osuga JPN 38.50; 6. H. Ren CHN 38.58

  Americans: 7. J. Rodriguez 38.61; 20. E. Ochowicz 39.62

  Ladies’ 1000 meters:

  1. J. Rodriguez USA 1:15.50; 2. C. Simionato ITA 1:16.03; 3. M. Timmer NED 1:16.53; 4. C. Witty USA 1:16.61; 5. S. Rempel CAN 1:16.86; 6. H. Ren CHN 1:16.98

  Americans: 19. E. Ochowicz 1:19.16

  Men’s 500 meters:

  1. K. Lee KOR 35.20; 2. F. Yu CHN 35.24; 3. J. Wotherspoon CAN 35.27; 4. C. FitzRandolph USA 35.31; 5. J. Cheek USA 35.32; 6. M. Ireland CAN 35.35

  Americans: 8. K. Carpenter 35.45; 11. T. Fredricks 35.51; 14. S. Davis 35.71

  Men’s 1000 meters:

  1. S. Davis USA 1:08.33; 2. J. Wotherspoon CAN 1:08.93; 3. E. Wetten NOR 1:09.23; 4. J. Cheek USA 1:09.35; 5. G. van Velde NED 1:09.40; 6. C. FitzRandolph USA 1:09.42

  Americans: 16. D. Parra 1:10.44

   

   

• U.S. Men Sweep 1000 Meters at World Cup
   

  MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (November 27, 2005) – On the final day of the Essent ISU World Cup (Sprints) the U.S. added four more medals to its ever-growing collection.

  In the men’s 1000 meters, the U.S swept the podium with Shani Davis (Chicago, IL) grabbing the gold, Joey Cheek (Greensboro, NC) the silver and Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, WI) the bronze.

  Davis, paired with Cheek for the last heat of the event, sped to his gold medal finish in 1:08.43. Cheek followed across the finish line in 1:08.68. FitzRandolph finished in 1:09.11. Derek Parra (San Bernardino, CA) finished 16 th in 1:10.49.

  FitzRandolph clocked a 35.15 finish time in the men’s 500 meters for his first medal of the day, a bronze. He tied with Korea’s Kang-Seok Lee. Teammate Joey Cheek (Greensboro, NC) also finished in 35.16, a fifth place finish. Cheek tied for fifth place with China’s Fengtong Yu. Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, WI) finished 11 th (35.63), Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, WI) 12 th (35.63) and Shani Davis (Chicago, IL) finished 18 th in 35.86.

  Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, FL) won a silver medal in the ladies’ 1000 meters in 1:15.68. Teammate Chris Witty (West Allis, WI) finished fourth in 1:16.59. Elli Ochowicz (Menlo Park, CA) finished 16 th in 1:18.08.

  Ochowicz skated to an 18 th place finish in the ladies’ 500 meters in 39.16. China’s Manli Wang took home the gold in 37.83.

   

• MARKET AMERICA TO LAUNCH  “CHAMPION BLEND”

   

  Olympians Jennifer Rodriguez and KC Boutiette Use Technology to Offer Personal Blend

   

  GREENSBORO, N.C.  – Market America, a product brokerage and Internet marketing company specializing in One-to-One Marketing and Mass Customization, today announced that it will introduce Isotonix^® Champion Blend, the latest addition to its line of Isotonix-brand dietary supplements. The Champion blend was designed by  speedskaters, Jennifer Rodriguez and KC Boutiette. The company will officially launch the product at the Essent ISU Speedskating World Cup competition to be held November 18-20, 2005 at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah.

   

  Sponsored by Market America, Jennifer Rodriguez and KC Boutiette used the company’s new Isotonix Custom Cocktail technology to design a personal blend of the Isotonix-brand products they take regularly. The new Isotonix Champion Blend will be a 15-day supply of six different Isotonix products: OPC-3, ORAC, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-12, Mineral Blast and MultiTech. The blend provides 23 essential vitamins and minerals that can help boost performance and overall health.

   

  “We have been taking Isotonix products for years now,” said Jennifer Rodriguez, 2-time Olympic bronze medalist and defending World Sprint Champion. “When Market America introduced Isotonix Custom Cocktail we were finally able to order just one bottle of all the products we take. Since we compete and train year-round for the Olympics, we can only take the highest quality supplements. The new Champion Blend is the formula we take and Market America is making it available to everyone that wants high-quality supplements that deliver.”

   

  In October 2005, Market America introduced its latest advance in mass customization technology, Isotonix Custom Cocktail. The new technology allows customers to design their own custom blend of up to 10 Isotonix-brand supplements. The web-based ordering system gives customers the ability to choose what they want in a dietary supplement while also receiving advice to help provide balanced nutrition. With over 3.6 million possible combinations, Isotonix joins the ranks of custom computer, clothing and bicycle makers that use technology to allow customers to design their own products.

   

  “The new Isotonix Custom Cocktail is the only supplement brand that allows us to choose what we want to take,” said KC Boutiette, 3-time Olympian and 2-time World Record holder. “Normally, we would have to spend the time taking multiple products in separate bottles. By using Isotonix Custom Cocktail, we can design a product that fits exactly what we want and need. Isotonix products give us that little bit of edge we need to compete in a sport that is ruled by hundredths of a second.”

   

  Market America has teamed with Rodriguez and Boutiette since 2004. The couple is also part of the company’s over 110,000 independent distributors worldwide. To locate a distributor visit marketamerica.com or call (800) 862-6561.

   

  ABOUT MARKET AMERICA

  Market America’s unique business model combines the power of the Internet and One-to-One Marketing to sell innovative products and services through independent distributors around the world. Founded in 1992, the company has realized more than $1.5 billion in suggested retail sales. The company now has more than 110,000 independent distributors worldwide. In 2005, the company opened operations in Taiwan and plans further expansion into the Pacific Rim. More information is available at www.marketamerica.com.

   
• Adam Smith Third in Opening World Cup PSL - LANDGRAAF, Netherlands (Oct. 7) – U.S. Snowboarding’s Adam Smith (Bend, OR), winner of the historic first indoor World Cup in 2004, was on the indoor podium again Friday finishing third in the season opening parallel slalom contest in Landgraaf, Netherlands. On the women’s side, two Americans – Rosie Fletcher (Girdwood, AK) and Erica Mueller (Chester, VT) – qualified for finals with Fletcher placing in the top 10. read it all here

• Granato and Team USA Win World Championship LINKOPING, Sweden (April 9, 2005) -- Team USA Wins First-Ever Gold Medal At IIHF Women’s World Championship; Scores Three Shootout Goals To Secure Victory  -- The U.S. Women’s National Team won its first-ever gold medal at the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship in Linkoping, Sweden, after defeating Canada, 1-0, in the final game of the tournament tonight. The teams skated through 80 scoreless minutes and the tournament's top goaltender, Chanda Gunn (Huntington Beach, Calif.), turned away 26 shots before the U.S. won the decision by shootout. read all about it at USAHockey.com

• Rodriguez Golden Again - Cheek Just Misses Erfurt, Germany (Feb. 12, 2005) -- Jennifer Rodriguez added another gold medal to her ever growing collection today at the Essent ISU World Cup taking top honors in the 1000 meters.  Weeks ago J-Rod won the World Sprint Championships in Salt Lake City and carried that momentum into today's event.  Countryman Joey Cheek narrowly missed the podium himself, settling for a fourth place finish in the men's 1000 meter event.  For all the results, follow this link http://events.horses.nl/skating/2004-2005/worldcup/erfurt/

• World Allround Championships; All U.S. Men in Top 10 MOSCOW, Russia (Feb. 6, 2005) --  The U.S. men long track Speedskating team dominated the ice Sunday in Moscow with Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) taking home top honors.


Davis and his teammates swept the 1500-meters event, plus one. Davis won the gold medal in the 1500-meters in 1:46.60. He was followed by three of his teammates: Chad Hedrick (Spring, Tex.), KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) and Derek Parra (Orlando, Fla.). Hedrick won the silver medal in 1:47.50 and Boutiette took the bronze in 1:48.79. Parra missed a spot on the podium with his fourth place finish in 1:48.98.

Hedrick was the top U.S. finisher in the 10,000-meters with a fourth place finish in 13:22.35. Davis finished fifth in 13:25.51.

Boutiette finished the 10,000-meters in 13:38.31, giving him a ninth place finish. Parra finished in 14:00.37 for an 11th place finish.

Davis’s superb skating led him to be the overall men’s leader with 150.777 points. Hedrick was second with 150.961 points. Boutiette finished sixth (153.532) and Parra was tenth (155.390).

On the ladies’ side, Anni Friesinger (GER) took home the gold in the 1500-meters in 1:57.35. Maria Lamb (River Falls, Wis.) was the top U.S. finisher with a 21st place finish in 2:02.82. Kristine Holzer (Boise, Ida.) finished 23rd in 2:04.54.

In the ladies’ 5000-meters, Friesinger took home another gold in 7:04.61 followed by teammate Claudia Pechstein, who won the silver in 7:05.08.

RESULTS:

Men’s 1500-meters:
1. S. Davis USA 1:46.60; 2. C. Hedrick USA 1:47.50; 3. KC Boutiette USA 1:48.79; 4. D. Parra USA 1:48.98; 5. J. Uytdehaage NED 1:49.07; 6. S. Kramer NED 1:49.28

Men’s 10000-meters:
1. O. Grodum NOR 13:06.79; 2. C. Verheijen NED 13:17.47; 3. S. Kramer NED 13:18.03; 4. C. Hedrick USA 13:22.35; 5. S. Davis USA 13:25.51; 6. J. Uytdehaage NED 13:26.21

Americans: 9. KC Boutiette 13:38.31; 11. D. Parra 14:00.37

Ladies’ 1500-meters:
1. A. Friesinger GER 1:57.35; 2. I. Wurst NED 1:58.17; 3. C. Klassen CAN 1:58.23; 4. D. Anschutz GER 1:58.59; 6. K. Groves CAN 1:59.04

Americans: 21. M. Lamb 2:02.82; 23. K. Holzer 2:04.54

Ladies’ 5000-meters:
1. A. Friesinger GER 7:04.61; 2. C. Pechstein GER 7:05.08; 3. C. Hughes CAN 7:05.69; 4. D. Anschutz GER 7:08.85; 5. K. Groves CAN 7:11.90; 6. I. Wust NED 7:11.99

Men’s Overall:
1. S. Davis USA 150.777; 2. C. Hedrick USA 150.961; 3. S. Kramer NED 152.244; 4. C. Verheijen NED 152.715; 5. J. Uytdehaage NED 152.793; 6. KC Boutiette USA 153.532

Americans: 10. D. Parra 155.390

Ladies’ Overall:
1. A. Friesinger GER 161.557; 2. C. Klassen CAN 163.214; 3. C. Pechstein GER 163.418; 4. D. Anschutz GER 163.719; 5. I. Wust NED 164.047; 6. K. Groves CAN 165.068

Americans: 23. K. Holzer 128.516; M. Lamb (not classified)
 

• Rodriguez Wins World Sprint Championship Title  SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Jan. 23) –  U.S. long track speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) claimed the women’s world sprint championship title Sunday after four impressive races over the weekend.


Rodriguez, overcoming a month of fatigue-like symptoms sprang back to life over the weekend setting three new personal best times. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had at a competition,” Rodriguez said Sunday after taking a victory lap around the Olympic Oval. “I never have four out of four good races. Usually it’s only two or three out of four but this weekend was awesome.”

Rodriguez started her day with a personal best in the 500-meters with a finish time of 37.94, barely missing the bronze medal that went to Sayuri Yoshii (JPN) who finished in 37.91. Rodriguez shared her fourth place finish with Sayuri Osuga of Japan.

Rodriguez was able to take home a medal, a gold one, in the 1000-meters with a finish time of 1:14.18. Anzhelika Kotyuga (BLR) took home the silver in 1:14.44, followed by Cindy Klassen (CAN) who won the bronze medal in 1:14.47. Kotyuga also took home the silver medal in the overall ladies’ classification. Germany’s Sabine Volker finished third overall.

On the men’s side, the Netherland’s Erben Wennemars defended his title as world sprint champion. American Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) finished third overall in the men’s classification.

“I’m really quite pleased with my performance this weekend,” Cheek said. “I had a really strong feeling all week that something good was going to happen at the competition and it did.”

Cheek nearly missed medalling in the men’s 500-meters event with his fourth place finish in 34.70. Russia’s Dmitry Lobkov and Canada’s Jeremy Wotherspoon tied for the gold in 34.67, closely followed by Wennemars.

Ladies’ 500-meters:
S. Volker GER 37.89; 2. T. Okazaki JPN 37.90; 3. S. Yoshii JPN 37.91; 4. J. Rodriguez USA 37.94; 4. S. Osuga JPN 37.94; 6. S. Rempel CAN 38.01.
Americans: 23. E. Ochowicz 38.92; 24. C. Witty 39.00; 26. A. Sanne 39.20

Ladies’ 1000-meters:
J. Rodriguez USA 1:14.18; 2. A. Kotyuga BLR 1:14.44; 3. C. Klassen CAN 1:14.47; 4. M. Gargrecht-Enfeldt GER 1:14.66; 5. S. Volker GER 1:14.72; 6. C. Simionato ITA 1:14.87
Americans: 13. C. Witty 1:16.09; 19. E. Ochowicz 1:16.89; 22. A. Sannes 1:17.51

Ladies’ Overall:
J. Rodriguez USA 150.015; 2. A. Kotyuga BLR 150.415; 3. S. Volker GER 150.425; 4. S. Yoshii JPN 150.490; 5. C. Simionato ITA 150.670; 6. B. Wang CHN 151.060
Americans: 16. C. Witty 153.570; 21. E. Ochowicz 154.370; 25. A. Sannes 156.120

Men’s 500-meters:
D. Lobkov RUS 34.67; 1. J. Wotherspoon CAN 34.67; 3. E. Wennemars NED 34.68; 4. J. Cheek USA 34.70; 5. H. Shimizu JPN 34.82; 6. J. Kato JPN 34.89
Americans: 10. C. FitzRandolph 35.11; 17. S. Davis 35.43; 29. K. Carpenter 36.25

Men’s 1000-meters:
E. Wennemars NED 1:07.46; 2. S. Davis USA 1:07.67; 3. J. Bos NED 1:07.92; 4. J. Cheek USA 1:08.20; 5. C. FitzRandolph USA 1:08.50; 5. M. Kobayashi JPN 1:08.50

Men’s Overall:
e. Wennemars NED 137.310; 2. J. Wotherspoon CAN 137.820; 3. J. Cheek USA 137.975; 4. M. Kobayashi JPN 138.050; 5. D. Lobkov RUS 138.100; 6. J. Bos NED 138.470

Americans: 7. S. Davis 138.715; 8. C. FitzRandolph 138.770; 18. K. Carpenter 140.270
 

• Cheek Brings Home the Gold at World Cup Calgary, CANADA (Jan. 15) – On the final day of the Essent ISU World Cup Speedskating competition at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, American Joey Cheek brought home the gold in the men’s 500-meters event.


Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) claimed his first World Cup victory this season with a 34.81 finish time. Yuya Oikawa (JPN) and teammate Joji Kato completed the podium lineup with finish times of 34.83 and 34.89, respectively.

Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, Wis.), coming off a silver medal finish Friday in the 1000-meters, finished fifth in 35.01.

Cheek was the top American finisher in the 1000-meters coming in eighth with a 1:08.87 finish time. The event belonged to Erben Wennemars (NED) who won in 1:08.26.

On the ladies’ side, Tomomi Okazaki won the gold in the 500-meters with a finish time of 37.73. This is the first time in this World Cup circuit where Manli Wang (CHN) did not take home the gold.

Chiara Simionato (ITA) won the 1000-meters in 1:14.89, maintaining a significant lead over silver medallist Anzhelika Koyuga (BLR) who finished in 1:15.12.

Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) was the top American finisher with an eighth place finish.

Ladies’ 500-meters:
OKAZAKI JPN 37.73; 2.WATANABE JPN 37.87; 3.KOTYUGA BLR 37.95; 4.WANG CHN 38.00; 5. YOSHII JPN 38.01; 6.WOLF GER 38.09
Americans: 17. OCHOWICZ 39.02; 18. WITTY 39.21

Ladies’ 1000-meters:
1. SIMIONATO ITA 1:14.89; 2. KOTYUGA BLR 1:15.12; 3. TIMMER NED 1:15.16; 4.  VÖLKER GER 1:15.58; 5.  REMPEL CAN 1:15.94; 6. YOSHII JPN 1:16.02
Americans: 8. WITTY 1:16.71; 15. OCHOWICZ 1:17.94

Men’s 500-meters:
1. CHEEK USA 34.81; 2. OIKAWA JPN 34.83; .3. KATO JPN 34.89; 4.WOTHERSPOON CAN 34.97; 5. FITZRANDOLPH USA 35.01; 6. LOBKOV RUS 35.04
Americans: 15. FREDRICKS 35.42; 17. CARPENTER USA 35.58

Men’s 1000-meters:
1. WENNEMARS NED 1:08.26; 2. KOBAYASHI JPN 1:08.63; 2. van VELDE NED 1:08.63; 4. BOS NED 1:08.67; 5. KOSKELA FIN 1:08.76; 6. NIJENHUIS NED 1:08.81
Americans: 8.CHEEK 1:08.87; 11. FITZRANDOLPH 1:09.26; 16. CARPENTER 1:10.53; 18.PEARSON 1:11.09
 

• Niccum Celebrates New Year with Nations Cup Silver Medal


Oberhof, Germany (Jan. 1, 2005) - US Luge slider Christian Niccum started 2005 just as he left off in 2004 - on the medals podium.  By the time his family and friends back home in Woodinville, OR were awakening from their New Year's Eve celebrations Niccum had already pocketed the Nation's Cup silver medal and solidified a spot in the weekend's World Cup event - his second silver medal of the season.

"This is one of the most difficult racks on the circuit, so any time you stand on the podium when most of the crowd's first language is German you know it's a good day (a reference to the Germans' dominance in the sport of luge).  Things are really starting to come together on the sled and I'm looking forward to competing in the World Cup."

The following day Niccum slid to an eighth place finish in the World Cup event thereby qualifying him to compete in the World Championships of luge to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah in February.   Niccum is a former 4-time Junior World Champion.

"Getting the World Championships qualification under my belt is something I've been looking forward to.  It slipped away from us in Calgary (Canada - previous World Cup) so I'm glad to have gotten right back on the sled and get that taken care of.  Now we're looking forward to keeping things moving forward and making our way to the medals podium."

###

• J-Rod and Cheek take 'US National Champion' Titles

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Dec. 22) – The U.S. Long Track Speedskating Championships came to an end Wednesday with a total of three new Pettit National Ice Center records and a roster of skaters attending the upcoming World Championships and World Cups.

On the ladies’ side, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) won the gold medal in the 500-meters with a finish time of 39.03. Hometown favorites Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) and Elli Ochowicz (Waukesha, Wis.) won the silver and bronze, respectively.  Rodriguez and Witty duplicated their respective gold and silver medals in the 1000-meters and Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) took home the bronze medal.

“I'm happy with my 500 but not so much with my 1000-meters,” Rodriguez said. “I tried to change my starting strategy in the 1000 meters by starting off slow and then going all out because my legs are a bit tired. But I quickly realized that it wasn’t going to work - I need to go all out for the entire race.”

On the men’s side, Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) ruled the Pettit Center with another track record. After Saturday’s 1500-meters record, Davis set a new record in the 1000-meters with a gold medal finish in 1:10.10.  Monday’s 1000-meters winner, Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) finished second in 1:10.65 followed by Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) finishing in 1:10.85.
Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) set a new track record in the 500-meters with a gold medal finish time of 35.59. Fredricks broke Hiroyasu Shimizu’s (Japan) 1998 record.

“It doesn’t seem real. I’m still driving my white Protégé,” Fredricks joked in reference to Shimizu’s white Ferrari.

Cheek won the silver medal in the 500-meters with a finish time of 35.69 followed by hometown favorite Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) who finished in 35.97.
In the overall sprints standings, Rodriguez topped the charts with 155.754 points, followed by Witty (158.245) and Sannes (159.965). Cheek took the overall win on the men’s side with 142.300 points, followed by Davis (142.660) and Carpenter (143.920).

Ladies’ results:
500-meters:
1. J. Rodriguez 39.03; 2. C. Witty 39.69; 3. E. Ochowicz 39.93; 4. A. Sannes 39.97; 5. E. Rodansky (Kearns, Utah) 40.77; 6. E. Porter (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) 41.32
1000-meters:
1. J. Rodriguez 1:18.24; 2. C. Witty 1:19.94; 3. A. Sannes 1:20.14; 4. E. Rodansky 1:21.06; 5. E. Ochowicz 1:21.08; 6. C. Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) 1:21.29
Overall Standings (Sprints):
1. J. Rodriguez 155.745 points; 2. C. Witty 158.245; 3. A. Sannes 159.965; 4. E. Ochowicz 160.885; 5. E. Rodansky 162.335; 6. C. Raney 164.910
Men’s Results:
500-meters:
1. T. Fredricks 35.59; 2. J. Cheek 35.69; 3. K. Carpenter 35.97; 4. S. Davis 36.12; 5. M. Pelchat (Chelmsford, Mass.) 36.44; 6. C. Needham (Belmont, Mass.) 36.45
1000-meters:
1. S. Davis 1:10.10; 2. N. Pearson 1:10.65; 3. J. Cheek 1:10.85; 4. D. Parra (Orlando, Fla.) 1:11.14; 5. K. Carpenter 1:11.63; 6. T. Fredricks 1:12.21.2004
Overall Standings (Sprints):
1. J. Cheek 142.300 points; 2. S. Davis 142.660; 3. K. Carpenter 143.920; 4. T. Fredricks 144.125; 5. N. Pearson 144.305; 6. D. Parra 144.885

####
 
 

 Niccum Pulls off the 'Double/Double' at North American Championships

 
Thursday, December 16, 2004

Salt Lake City, UT - U.S. Slider Christian Niccum completed a rare two-medal performance on the same day as the US Luge Team dominated the 2004-05 North American Championships.  Niccum, a former Jr. World Champion, is one of few athlete in the sports history to compete internationally in both the singles and doubles divisions.  Tony 'The Laser' Benshoof bested Niccum for the gold medal in the singles competition, while the two-time Olympic medal winning duo of Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin edged Niccum and teammate Patrick Quinn for the win in the doubles division.  The pair of silver medals left Niccum in rare company of athletes who have reached the podium in both disciplines.

"Many people believe that in order to succeed in luge an athlete has to specialize in either singles or doubles," said Niccum.  "For me, I find that there are elements of both disciplines that help my performance in the other.  It takes some getting used to, especially on a day like today when I'm competing in both, but I actually find it to be an advantage.  It's  gives me twice as many chances to stand on the podium."

The US Luge teal will break for the holidays before returning to Oberhof, Germany where World Cup competition resumes over New Year's weekend.
 

• Schuffenhauer and Crew Win Gold, Gold and Silver in World Cup Four-man Bobsled - USOC Team of the Month

 
Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Lake Placid, NY – The United States Men’s Bobsled Team has been honored by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the recipient of the Team of the Month for November 2004.  Making up the award winning team were: 2002 Olympic Silver Medalists’ Todd Hays (Del Rio, TX) and Bill Schuffenhauer (Salt Lake City, UT); 2002 Olympian Steve Mesler (Buffalo, NY) and Pavle
Jovanovic (Tom’s River, NJ).

The U.S. Men’s Bobsled Team captured a surprising first-place finish in the first four-man bobsled World Cup race of the season at Winterberg, Germany on a track usually dominated by the Germans. 2002 Olympic silver medalists’ Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) and Bill Schuffenhauer, Steve Mesler and Pavle Jovanovic had runs of 54.84 and 54.72 for a combined time of 1:49.56. The
.01-second victory over the Russian four-man team was one of the closest races in recent years.

Also winning awards for the month of November were track and field’s Missy Buttry and skiing’s Bode Miler as its November Athletes of the Month.

Placing second in the women’s vote was skeleton’s Noelle Pikus-Pace (Orem, Utah), who shocked the skeleton world when she claimed the gold medal in the first World Cup race of the year in Winterberg, Germany. Pikus-Pace won the race by .37 seconds after a combined time of 1:58:83. Her best finish coming into this season was 11th place in Calgary, Canada, and Lake Placid, N.Y.,
last season. She was ranked 14th in the world last season and is now the top-ranked women’s skeleton athlete in the world.

Finishing third on the men’s ballot was bobsled’s Todd Hays, who on a track dominated by the Germans drove his team to the gold medal in the first World Cup four-man race of the year in Winterberg, Germany. Hays won by .01 seconds over the second-place Russian team.

Results (first place votes in parentheses)

WOMEN
1. Missy Buttry 31 (7)
2. Noelle Pikus-Pace 28 (4)
3. Hyo-Jung Kim 27 (6)
Also receiving first place votes: Ali Bernard (wrestling)

MEN
1. Bode Miller 37 (9)
2. Brad Vering 19 (1)
3. Todd Hays 17 (3)
Also receiving first place votes: Andrew Adkison (water skiing), Meb
Keflezighi (track and field), Apolo Anton Ohno (speedskating), Johnny Weir
(figure skating)

TEAM
1. U.S. Men’s Bobsled Team 49 (14)
2. U.S. Women’s Speedskating Team 28 (2)
3. U.S. Men’s Bowling Team 12 (0)

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Igls, Austria – The United States men’s bobsled team had a memorable day in the four-man race in Igls, Austria. The American team saw the four-man team led by 2002 Olympic Silver Medalists’ Todd Hays (Del Rio, TX), Bill Schuffenhauer (Salt Lake City, UT), 2002 Olympian Steve Mesler (Buffalo, NY) and Pavle Jovanovic (Tom’s River, NJ) win the silver medal while the team of Steve Holcomb (Park City, UT) with a crew of Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, OH), Ben Fogel (Nevada City, CA) and Curt Tomasevicz (Omaha, NE) tied for fourth place, the highest finish ever in a World Cup event for Holcomb.

The Russian team of Alexandre Zoubkov, Alexei Seliverstov, Sergei Golubev and Dmitry Stepuschkin claimed their first ever World Cup gold medal after putting down the two fastest runs in each heat of the competition. The Russians had a first run of 50.94, a new track record, and a second run of 51.18 for a combined time of 1:42.12. Taking the silver, .26 seconds behind Zoubkov was the team of Todd Hays, Bill Schuffenhauer, Steve Mesler and Pavle Jovanovic. Hays and his crew had won the last two 4-man World Cup races using a new Bo-Dyn sled and were in a position to make it three in a row but the Russians proved to be just to tough. For the past two weeks Hays and his team had been trailing Zoubkov after the first run and were able to overcome the deficit to take the gold. This time Hays was trailing after the first run once again after a run of 51.06 but could not catch Zoubkov after a second run of 51.32 for a combined time of 1:42.38. Hays and his crew also had pushes of 5.01 and 4.98 in the race

The bronze would go to the German team of 2002 Olympic 4-Man Champion, Andre Lange with Rene Hoppe, Thomas Poege and Martin Putze. Lange and his crew had runs of 51.13 and 51.42 for a combined time of 1:42.55.

Rounding out the top six were: Mathias Hoepgner with Marc Kuehne, Andreas Barucha and Stefan Barucha from Germany tied with the American team of Steve Holcomb with Brock Kreitzburg, Ben Fogel and Curt Tomasevicz with a time 1:42.71. The Germans had runs of 51.17 and 51.54 while the Americans had runs of 51.20 and 51.51. Finishing sixth from Canada was Pierre Lueders with Giulio Zardo, Ken Kotyk and Lascelles Brown with a time of 1:42.80 (51.24, 51.56).
The team of Steve Holcomb, Brock Kreitzburg, Ben Fogel and Curt Tomasevicz had their best finish ever in a World Cup event after putting together two solid runs in a tough field. Holcomb was also using a new Bo-Dyn sled like Hays and it paid off with a top four finish. The Americans had a 5.12 push on run one with a time of 51.20 and run two would see a 5.10 push and a time of 51.51 for a combined time of 1:42.71.

Sunday, December 5, 2004

Altenberg, Germany – For the second week in a row the Americans shocked the bobsled world by claiming a gold medal in the four-man competition on a German track.  Just like last week the American teams struggled in the two-man competition with the top sled finishing in eighth.  The American four-man team led by 2002 United States Olympic Silver Medalists’ Todd Hays
(Del Rio, TX), Bill Schuffenhauer (Salt Lake City, UT), 2002 Olympian Steve Mesler (Buffalo, NY) and Pavle Jovanovic (Tom’s River, NJ) not only won the gold medal but also remained undefeated in the four-man competition.  The last time the United States won two consecutive gold medals in the four-man competition on the German tracks was over twelve years ago when 2002 Olympic Bronze Medalist Brian Shimer (Naples, FL) completed the feat during the 1992-1993 season.

Todd Hays and his crew used the new Bo-Dyn sled that they won with last week to claim the victory, by .21 seconds over Alexandre Zoubkov of Russia.  Just like last week Hays and his team came from behind for the victory.  This time the team was four hundredths of a second behind Zoubkov after having a first run of 54.31 after a push of 5.12.  Run two would see a push of 5.14
and a down time of 54.89, the fastest of run two.  The Americans finished with a combined time of 1:49.20.

Taking the silver was the Russian team of Alexandre Zoubkov with Alexei Seliverstov, Sergei Golubev and Dmitry Stepuschkin.  The Russians had a first run of 54.27, good enough for first place after run one.  For the second week in a row Zoubkov was in line for his first ever World Cup victory but the Americans would make sure he would have to wait a least one more week.  Run two would see a time of 55.14 for a combined time of 1:49.41.  The bronze would go to the German team of 2002 Olympic 4-Man Champion, Andre Lange with Rene Hoppe, Kevin Kuske and Martin Putze.  Lange and his crew had runs of 54.32 and 55.20 for a combined time of 1:49.52.

Rounding out the top six were: Germany 2 in fourth driven by Mathias Hoepgner with Marc Kuehne, Andreas Barucha and Stefan Barucha with a time 1:49.54 (54.50, 55.04); in fifth from Austria, the team of Wolfgang Stampfer, Klaus Seelos, Andreas Proller and Jurgen Mayer with a time of 1:49.62 (54.32, 55.30) and in sixth, Canada 1 driven by Pierre Lueders with Giulio Zardo, Ken Kotyk and Brown with a time of 1:49.63 (54.44, 55.19).

Sunday, November 28, 2004

Winterberg, Germany – What a difference a day makes.  After finishing eleventh in the 2-man competition. The American 4-man team led by 2002 United States Olympic Silver Medalists’ Todd Hays (Del Rio, TX), BillSchuffenhauer (Salt Lake City, Utah), 2002 Olympian Steve Mesler (Buffalo, NY) and Pavle Jovanovic (Toms River, NJ) claimed the gold medal in one of the closest races in bobsled racing in years, with only .05 seconds separating the top four sleds.

Todd Hays and his crew used an untested new Bo-Dyn sled and stunned the field after coming from fourth place after run one to narrowly take the gold, by .01 seconds over Russian Alexandre Zoubkov.  Hays was ten hundredths of a second behind Zoubkov after having a first run of 54.84 after a push of 4.89.  Run two would see an identical push of 4.89 and a down time of 54.72, the fastest of run two.  The Americans finished with a down time of 1:49.56.

Taking the silver was the Russian team of Alexandre Zoubkov with Alexei Seliverstov, Sergei Golubev and Dmitry Stepuschkin.  The Russians had a first run of 54.74, good enough for first place after run one.  Zoubkov was in line for his first ever World Cup victory but during the start Zoubkov was bumped by a teammate loading the sled; enough force to cause the sled to
drift momentarily, giving Hays the gold and the Russians the silver.

The bronze would go to Martin Annen, Andi Gees, Beat Hefti and Cedric Grand of Switzerland.  The Swiss would miss the gold by .02 seconds after identical runs of 54.79 for a combined time of 1:49.58.

Rounding out the top six were: Canada 1 and Germany 1 tied for fourth, Canada 1 was driven by Pierre Lueders with Giulio Zardo, Ken Kotyk and Brown with a time of 1:49.61 (54.90, 54.71); Germany 1 was driven by 2002 Olympic4-Man Champion, with Rene Hoppe, Kevin Kuske and Martin Putze with a time of 1:49.61 (54.77, 54.84); and in sixth, Latvia 1 driven by Janis Minins with
Juris Lattiss, Ainars Podnieks and Janis Ozols with a time of 1:49.87 (55.06, 54.81).
 

• Rodriguez Awarded USAToday.com's Athlete of the Week From Nov. 16, 2004 USATODAY.com: Rodriguez Turns Weekly Award into Annual

By Beau Dure,

One of the most consistent U.S. winter sports stars returned to action this weekend with a victory.

Jennifer Rodriguez won two speedskating medals in the 2002 Olympics and contended for two overall World Cup titles last winter, winning the season series at 1,000 meters and placing second at 1,500 meters. In this season's World Cup opener in Hamar, Norway, Rodriguez edged past former world champion Cindy Klassen of Canada by 0.33 seconds to win the 1,500 meters.

Rodriguez also finished eighth in 3,000 meters, the only other individual event over the weekend, and joined Maria Lamb and Catherine Raney to finish second in the new team pursuit event.

For her efforts, Rodriguez is USATODAY.com's U.S. Olympic Athlete of the Week for the second time, joining swimmer Ian Crocker and the beach volleyball duo of Misty May and Kerri Walsh as the only two-time winners. Rodriguez won the very first Athlete of the Week one year ago.

Also in Norway, KC Boutiette, Chad Hedrick and Derek Parra won the men's team pursuit, setting an unofficial world record in the new event. Hedrick finished fourth in the 1,500 meters, where Parra placed sixth and Joey Cheek was 10th. The U.S. placed two in the top 10 in the 5,000: Hedrick (seventh) and Boutiette (ninth).

##

Rodriguez Goes the Distance HAMAR, Norway (Nov. 14) - The American long track speedskaters happily concluded their racing at the Essent ISU World Cup in Norway on Sunday as Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) skated to a first place finish in the women’ 1500-meters in the Division A race and Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) finished first in the Division B event.

Rodriguez finished with a time of 1:57.02. Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) finished 16th with a time of 2:00.51. In the women’s Division B 1500-meters event, Witty won with a 1:59.40 time. The USA also placed 4th and 5th in the event with Maria Lamb (River Falls, Wis.) and Sarah Elliott (Oconomowoc, Wis.) finishing 2:01.59 and 2:01.68, respectively.

“"I was so happy with that race,” Rodriguez said of her performance in the 1500-meters. “My legs felt good, my technique felt good, I didn't even worry when I saw other girls put up some very fast times before I got my chance to go. I just thought, 'well, I guess I gotta go.'  And I did!"

In the women’s team pursuit, Canada took the overall lead with USA only a hair away in second place. Team USA finished in 3:05.69 to Canada’s 3:05.49. The USA team was skated by Rodriguez, Raney and Lamb.

“"That was fun... and a lot easier than I expected,” Rodriguez said of her team’s second place finish. “We made a little mistake; our last lead-change we should have made earlier in the race, but other than that it could not have gone smoother."

Tom Cushman, the U.S. Speedskating long track national coach was happy with the women’s performance Sunday.

"Jen (Rodriguez) skated strong, even faster than last year when she won this 1500 competition.  And she nailed her goals for the race - a smooth, fast opener and really aggressive with 800 meters to go,” Cushman said. “Moreover she proved to herself that she can skate after everyone else has raced and have the last outer turn (which always seems so long when you are tired at the end of the race) and still win... she proved a lot to herself in that race."

"The Women's Team Pursuit went amazingly well,” Cushman stated. “They were conservative in their speed to keep everyone together, and they were cautious on the lead-changes so as to make no major errors.  And that paid off; now we know we can push the pace even more next week and maybe take over the new world record."
 
 

• 2004 Women's Four Nations Cup November 14, 2004

 

Team USA Claims Four Nations Cup Silver Medal; Fall to Canada, 2-1 in Gold Medal Game Sunday

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- In a second tight battle between the teams in the Four Nations Cup, the U.S. Women’s Select team fell to Canada, 2-1 in the gold medal game on Sunday. The Canadians took a 1-0 lead with an early power play goal and never trailed.

With the U.S. trailing, 1-0, and on the man advantage, Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.) capitalized by flipping a backhanded shot past Canadian goalie Charline Labonte. Kelly Stephens (Seattle, Wash.) earned the assist on the goal as time expired in the second session. The score was the sixth in two days for the line of Stephens-Darwitz-Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.).

The teams skated through a scoreless second period before Canada pulled ahead just two minutes into the final session. Team USA would threaten with several scoring chances in the game including a  second period shot off the crossbar by Katie King (Salem, N.H.) and a six-on-four advantage with an  empty net as time expired in the third. Team USA outshot Canada 38-27, but was unable to put the equalizer past Player of the Game, Labonte, who finished with 36 saves in the game.

U.S. goalie Pam Dreyer (Eagle River, Alaska) stopped 22-of-24 shots in the loss.

The silver medal is fifth at this event for the U.S. team. The U.S. entered the tournament as defending champions after earning its second gold medal in the event last year.

Earlier today, Sweden claimed the bronze medal with a 4-2 win over Finland.

Canada  1    0    1    --   2
USA       1    0    0    --   1

First Period -- Scoring: 1, CAN, Hefford (Pounder), 7:56 (pp). 2, USA, Darwitz (Stephens), 19:54 (pp). Penalties: Kingsbury, CAN (body check), King, USA (interference), 6:36; Dupuis, CAN (holding the stick), 8:53, Goyette, CAN (roughing) 11:40, Engstrom, USA (holding) 12:06; MacLeod, CAN (tripping) 14:12; Apps, CAN (interference) 19:43.

Second Period -- Scoring: None. Penalties:  Granato, USA (interference) 0:34; Apps, CAN (tripping) 4:20; Dunn, USA (slashing) 6:36; Dupuis, CAN (interference)
9:43; Apps, CAN (bodychecking) 17:16; Vaillancourt, CAN (roughing) 17:36; Darwitz, USA (roughing) 17:36; Pounder, CAN (bodychecking) 19:59.

Third Period -- Scoring: 3, CAN, Antal (Goyette) 2:20. Penalties: Bonhomme, CAN (holding) 5:56; Dunn, USA (tripping) 8:15; Wickenheiser, CAN (body checking)
9:00; Sunohara, CAN (roughing) 9:14; Stephens, USA (roughing) 9:14; Apps, CAN (interference) 18:49; Sunohara, CAN  (roughing) 20:00; Darwitz, USA (high-sticking), 20:00.

Shots: CAN: 9-10-8--27. USA: 10-17-11--38.

Goaltenders: CAN, Labonte, (38 shots, 37 saves). USA, Dreyer, (25 shots, 23 saves), USA, Gunn (17:20, 3rd period-1 shot, 1 save).
 
 

• USA Sets World Record at Essent ISU Long Track World Cup HAMAR, Norway (Nov. 13) — Even though it’s the first time the team pursuit event has been officially recorded, the USA men’s long track speedskating team had the honor Saturday of setting the standard for which all other team pursuit competitions will be compared.

 

The team pursuit will be introduced as an Olympic sport in Torino in 2006. In the men’s event, it is an eight-lap race with two teams of three skaters starting on opposite sides of the track. The finishing time is taken from the back leg of the third place skater when he crosses the line. The women’s team pursuit is a six-lap race.

The USA men’s team consisted of Chad Hedrick (Spring, Tex.), KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) and Derek Parra (Orlando, Fla.), who won the event last year on the international circuit. Their finish time, as well as the first world record  was 3 minutes 48.56 seconds. They were followed by Italy with a finish time of 3:51.20 and Poland, 3:52.30.

“(The race) was even smoother than any time we raced last year,” Parra said of his team’s performance Saturday. “We saw the Italian team’s time and they wert out hard and I wondered if we could match or beat it. But it was great how easy those fast lap times came for us.”

“That went just as we planned,” Boutiette said. “I’m glad with how we skated. I think we can still go a lot faster.”

U.S. Speedskating long track coach Tom Cushman was happy with the men’s race. “I think we showed that the U.S. is here to compete for the gold medal,” Cushman said.

In other events on Saturday, the Canadian women dominated the 3000-meters event. In Division A, Kristina Groves won with a finish time of 4:06.77, followed by Canadian teammate Clara Hughes at 4:07.06. Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) finished eighth with a 4:11.02 finish time. Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) finished 12th in 4:13.34.

In Division B for the women’s 3000-meters event, Canadian Cindy Klassen won with a 4:07.28 time. Maria Lamb (River Falls, Wis.) took fourth place with a 4:14.04 finish time. Nancy Swider-Pelz, Jr. (Wheaton, Ill.) took 21st place in 4:24.24.

The men’s 1500-meters event belonged to the Dutch with a sweep in the Division A category. Mark Tuitert, Erben Wennemars and Beorn Nijenhuis finished 1:46.88, 1:47.17 and 1:47.46, respectively. The Americans, however, finished closely at their heels with Hedricks finished fourth in 1:48.09, followed by Parra and Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) and Clay Mull (Gastonia, N.C.) sixth, 10th and 14th place, respectively.

Russia’s Andrey Burlyayev finished first in the Division B event in 1:49.13 with Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) finishing 11th.

The women’s team pursuit will take place Sunday along with men’s 5000-meters and women’s 1500-meters events.

Saturday:

Men’s Team Pursuit:

1. USA 3:48.56; 2. Italy 3:51.20; 3. Poland 3:52.30; 4. Japan 3:53.07; 5. Russia 3:53.45; 6. Canada 3:54.24

Men’s 1500-meters Division A

1. M. Tuitert (NED) 1:46.88; 2. E. Wennemars (NED) 1:47.17; 3. B. NIJENHUIS (NED) 1:47.46; 4. C. HEDRICK (USA) 1:48.09

Americans: 6. D. Parra 1:48.26; 10. J. Cheek 1:49.04; 14. C. Mull 1:50.49

Men’s 1500-meters Division B

A. Burlyayev (RUS) 1:49.13; 2. R. Stordal (NOR) 1:49.17; 3. C. Breuer (GER) 1:49.21; 4. T. Ushiyama (JPN) 1:49.40

Americans: 11. C.Callis 1:50.22

Women’s 3000-meters Division A

K. Groves (CAN) 4:06.77; 2. C. Hughes (CAN) 4:07.06; 3. G. Smit (NED) 4:07.92; 4. R. Groenewold (NED) 4:07.98

Americans: 8. J. Rodriguez 4:11.02; 12. C. Raney 4:13.34

Women’s 3000-meters Division B

C. Klassen (CAN) 4:07.28; 2. M. Sablikova (CZE) 4:13.57; 3. F. Wang (CHN) 4:13.85; 4. M. Lamb (USA) 4:14.85

Americans: 21. N. Swider-Pelz, Jr. 4:24.24
 

• Q Sports 2006 Olympic Preview - October, 2004 --"Who's Who at Q Sports - 2006 Olympic Preview" is now available.  With the Athens Games now behind us, America’s winter Olympians will be next to proudly represent the USA when the Olympic Games return to Torino, Italy, in February of 2006. Q Sports is proud to present this collection of champion athletes who have collectively earned a remarkable sixteen Olympic medals – twelve from Salt Lake City.  They are an ethnically diverse group, from an array of winter sports, who will proudly carry on America’s tradition of Olympic excellence. Each athlete is already considered a medal contender in 2006.  To obtain a copy, email us here: qsports@yahoo.com.

• Olympic Champion  Granato Weds NHL Hero Ferraro - September 4, 2004 - Vancouver, BC -- Olympic gold and silver medalist Cammi Ganato and 18-year NHL veteran/ESPN commentator Ray Ferrao were married near their home in Vancouver, BC among family and friends.  Read the latest on Cammi Granato here.

• J-Rod & Bootie Sign with Market America - June 28, 2004 -- Market America, a leading internet marketing company specializing in one-to-one marketing and mass customization, today announced that is has partnered with speedskaters Jennifer Rodriguez and KC Boutiette... read the press release here.

• Sports Illustrated Profiles Rodriguez and Parra - Alltime Greats - read the article here.

• Parra's Autobiography 'Reflections in the Ice' Takes Top Honors at Benjamin Franklin Book Awards

Chicago, IL, June 2, 2004 – Although he's no stranger to world class competition Olympic Gold Medalist Derek Parra was in unfamiliar territory last night in the literary world of the 2004 Benjamin Franklin Book Awards. Nevertheless, by evening's end he had made a name for himself amidst a ballroom full of hundreds of book industry professionals, authors and publishers.  Parra's autobiography 'Reflections in the Ice - Inside the Heart and Mind of an Olympic Champion' took home top honors as winner of both the year's best 'Biography/Memoir' and 'Outstanding Cover Design'.

"It's difficult for me to describe how honored I am by these awards.  I tried to write this book from the heart, keeping my fingers crossed that people would enjoy it, but to be recognized among all of these outstanding authors and industry leaders is beyond anything I had ever dreamed. If only my high school English teacher could see me now...!'

About the Benjamin Franklin Awards:

Named in honor of America's most cherished publisher and printer, the Benjamin Franklin Award is considered one of the book industry's most prestigious honors.  Sponsored by the Publishers Marketing Association, each year thousands of books are submitted for the awards, recognizing excellence in publishing and marketing in 54 categories. A shortlist of over 150 books are selected by a panel of over 100 judges active in all phases of the book publishing industry. Finally they select the best of the best, naming three category finalists. Winners were announced at a gala awards dinner ceremony last night at Chicago's downtown Marriott Hotel, coinciding with the start of the industry's top trade show and convention, Book Expo America.

About the Book:

‘Reflections in the Ice’ is a look inside the heart and mind of a man who had no business succeeding where he did. From the Mexican barrio in Southern California, around the world, through the aisles of Home Depot to the top step of the Olympic podium, Derek Parra struggled for seventeen years to become the first Latino ever to bring home Winter Olympic Gold.  Through ‘Reflections in the Ice’ he delivers a collection of emotional, soul bearing life lessons on poverty and Olympic glory, the 9/11 tragedy, new born life, fatherhood and more.  Parra pours forth a gamut of emotions and delivers a story of unusual depth and insight well beyond the typical sport biography.

Online book orders: http://www.derekparra.com

• Niccum Joins Q Sports - May, 2004 - Four-time Junior World Champion luge athlete Christian Niccum is the lastest Q Sports athlete acquisition.  Read all about Christian here.

• Parra Authors 'Reflections in the Ice'- Olympic Champion Derek Parra has completed his autobiography...read all about it at www.DEREKPARRA.com

• Elliott, Callis and Boutiette Win at North American/Oceania Regional Qualifier

 

CALGARY, Canada, January 17, 2004 - Sarah Elliott (Oconomowoc, Wis.), Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) and KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) were all winners on the opening day of the North America/Oceania Regional Qualifier on Saturday at the Calgary Olympic Oval. The event serves as a qualifier for the World Allround Championships.

Callis led four U.S. skaters atop the men's 500-meter standings with a time of 36.34. Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) was second in 36.44, Boutiette placed third in 36.50, and Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) took fourth in 36.86.

Other American finishers in the men's 500-meters were Chad Hedrick (Magnolia, Texas) in sixth with a time of 37.61, and Clay Mull (Gastonia, N.C.) in 10th with a clocking of 37.61.

Boutiette won the men's 5000-meters with a time of 6 minutes 32.48 seconds. Davis (6:34.58) was third, Hedrick (6:34.63) was fourth, Parra (6:39.91) placed sixth, Callis (6:47.49) finished eighth, and Mull (6:54.60) took 11th place.

U.S. skaters occupy the top five spots in the men's standings, led by Boutiette in first place with 75.748 points. Davis (75.898) is second, Hedrick (76.643) is third, Parra (76.851) stands in fourth and Callis (77.089) is fifth. Mull (79.070) is currently 11th.

Sunday's competition will include the men's and ladies' 1500-meters, the ladies' 5000-meters and the
men's 10,000-meters.
 

• Rodriguez Claims Second 1000-Meter Silver Medal, Earns Overall Bronze at World Sprint Championships

 

NAGANO, Japan, January 18, 2004 - Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) won her second silver medal in the 1000-meters at the World Sprint Speed Skating  Championships on Sunday and claimed the overall bronze medal in the ladies' final standings. It was her first overall World Championship medal of her career.

Rodriguez, who started the day in fourth place overall, finished 15th in the 500-meters with a time of 39.46 seconds. She then skated a time of 1 minute 16.98 seconds in the 1000-meters to place second and move past China's Manli Wang into third place in the overall standings with 155.950 points.

"My 500 was off again today, but I finally skated the 1000 the way I wanted," said Rodriguez. "I thought I was going to finish fourth overall so I'm very excited
with the overall bronze medal."

U.S. Coach Ryan Shimabukuro cited Rodriguez' heart to be the key to her success this weekend.

"Jen's determination won her the overall bronze today," Shimabukuro said. "She refused to give up and skated her best race of the weekend. She should be
very proud of her first overall World Championship medal."

Wang won the ladies' 500-meters with a time of 38.67. Elli Ochowicz (Waukesha, Wis.) was 17th in 39.57, Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) finished 28th in 40.71, and
Julie Glass (Olympia, Wash.) placed 29th in 40.87.

The ladies' 1000-meters was won by Germany's Anni Friesinger in 1:16.56. Ochowicz was 11th in 1:18.52, followed by Glass (1:20.54) in 23rd and Sannes
(1:22.77) in 28th place.

The overall ladies' Sprint Champion was Marianne Timmer of the Netherlands with 155.255 points. Ochowicz (158.500) was 16th overall, Glass (162.580)
finished 27th and Sannes (163.160) was 29th.
 

• Rodriguez, Ohno Named U.S. Speedskating's 2003 Athletes of the Year

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., January 13, 2004 – U.S.Speedskating has named Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami,Fla.) and Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.) as its Athletes of the Year for 2003.

Rodriguez reached the award podium 19 times at international competitions in 2003, compiling 11 gold, four silver and four bronze medals. She was the World Allround Champion in the 500-meters, won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the World Single Distance Championships, and finished the 2002-03 World Cup season ranked third in the 1500-meter standings.  At the end of the 2003 calendar year, Rodriguez was ranked first in the World Cup standings for both the 1000- and 1500-meter events.  She set a track record
at the Calgary Olympic Oval during the World Cup event held Dec. 6-7, with a time of 1 minute 14.50 seconds, and won both the 1500- and 3000-meter races at the U.S. Single Distance Championships in October.

Ohno won his second career World Cup title in February, earning 196 points out of a possible 200 during the season. He had a hand in 12 of the 13 short track medals won by the U.S. during the 2003 calendar year, winning 10 individual medals (3 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze), and two relay medals (one silver and one bronze).  Ohno won his fifth U.S. National Short Track Championship in March in Bay City, Mich., and set American records in all four distances during 2003: 500-meters (Oct. 11), 1000-meters (Oct. 26),
1500-meters (Oct. 24), and 3000-meters (Dec. 7).  In February, he was named a finalist for the Amateur Athletic Union's James E. Sullivan Memorial Award which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation.

Rodriguez and Ohno are now eligible for the United States Olympic Committee's 2003 Athletes of the Year Awards.

• U.S. Olympic Committee Honors Rodriguez For Second Straight Month

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., January 15, 2004 – The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) today named two-time Olympic speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) and skier
Daron Rahlves as the December Athletes of the Month. The USOC Team of the Month honor was awarded to the USA Men’s Bobsled Team.

Rodriguez, the November Female Athlete of the Month, continued to burn up the World Cup circuit by winning three straight 1000-meter events in December. She began by setting a track record at the Calgary Olympic Oval on Dec. 6, winning 1000-meter gold with a time of 1:14.50 and finishing nearly a full second ahead of the second-place finisher. She won her second straight 1000-meter gold the following day. On Dec. 12 at the Salt Lake City World Cup, Rodriguez made it three consecutive 1000-meter gold medals. She also placed fifth that day in the 500-meter in 38.17 seconds, which was one one-hundredth off her own national record. She placed fifth again the following day in the second 500-meter event. Rodriguez currently tops the World Cup standings in both the 1000- and 1500-meter events.

The award marks the third month in a row in which a speedskater has been honored by the USOC.  Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.) was the Male Athlete of the Month for October.  It is only the third time a sport has won the award three or more consecutive months, and the first time since 2000.

Results (first place votes in parentheses):

WOMEN
1. Jennifer Rodriguez 45 (9)
2. Laura Reback 25 (4)
3. Lora Webster 16 (2)
Also receiving first place votes: Shannon Bahrke (Skiing), Theresa Cliff (Roller Sports), Gabrielle Domanic (Water Polo), Kristie Marano (Wrestling) and Lea Ann Parsley (Skeleton).

MEN
1. Daron Rahlves 37 (7)
2. Tony Benshoof 28 (4)
3. Rulon Gardner 19 (4)
Also receiving first place votes: Todd Hays (Bobsled), Joey Mantia (Roller Sports), Apolo Anton Ohno (Speedskating) and Chris Seilkop (Sitting Volleyball).

TEAM
1. Men’s Bobsled Team 46 (9)
2. Women’s Water Polo Team 33 (8)
3. Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin 26 (2)
Also receiving first place votes: Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team.

###

•  

• Rodriguez Wins Third Straight 1000-Meter World Cup Race

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, December 12, 2003 - The hot streak continued for Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) on Friday as she posted her third consecutive 1000-meter World Cup victory with a personal best time of 1 minute 14.06 seconds. The win was her fifth gold medal of the season and sixth overall.

Rodriguez' time was almost a full second ahead of second-place finisher Chiara Simionato of Italy, who crossed the line in 1:15.05.

"I'm really happy," said Rodriguez. "It's been awhile since I skated this well. I'm just having a good time and feeling no pressure.

The previous personal best for Rodriguez was 1:14.24 set at the 2002 Olympic Games.

"My opener was the fastest I've ever had," Rodriguez continued. "My corners were good but the straightaways need some work. But that's good because I have room to improve."

Elli Ochowicz (Waukesha, Wis.) also skated a personal best in the ladies' Division A 1000-meters and finished fifth in 1:16.08. Her previous best was 1:16.41. Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) placed 19th in 1:19.13.

Rodriguez also skated a very strong 500-meters on Friday, placing fifth and coming within one one-hundreth of a second of tying her own national record with a time of 38.17 seconds. Ochowicz also had a fine showing, setting her second personal best of the night with a time of 38.65 to better her old mark of 38.78. She finished in 15th place.

Japan's Shihomi Shinya won the ladies' Division A 500-meters in 37.88.

U.S. National Coach Tom Cushman was pleased with the way Rodriguez skated her races.

"Jen had just a super 500-meters," said Cushman. "I thought going into the 1000-meters that she could have a great race. She opened with one of her best openers ever then just sat back, skated the race and used her great turn technique."

"It's been a great Fall World Cup season for Jen," Cushman added. "Now I'm looking forward to getting back to some consistent training so we can really come out even stronger in February and March."

The U.S. men enjoyed two top 10 finishes in both the Division A 500-meters and the Division A 1000-meters. Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) placed ninth and Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, Wis.) was 10th in the 500-meters. Carpenter skated a time of 35.05 and FitzRandolph was close behind in 35.06.

Canada's Jeremy Wotherspoon posted the winning 500-meter time of 34.49.

In the 1000-meters, Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) finished ninth with a personal best of 1:08.78 (his previous best was 1:08.83) and Carpenter placed 10th in 1:08.84. Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) was 14th in 1:09.23 and FitzRandolph placed 16th in 1:09.31. Erben Wennemars led a Netherlands' sweep in the 1000-meters with a time of 1:07.63.

In the ladies' Division B 500-meters, Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) placed second with a time of 38.86, behind Japan's Aki Tonoike's time of 38.79. Sannes placed 11th in 39.82 and Julie Glass (Olympia, Wash.) was 14th with a personal best time of 40.21. Glass also set a personal best in the Division B 1000-meters with her time of 1:19.27 which was good enough for ninth place. China's Xin Zhao posted the top time of 1:17.46.

Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) was the top U.S. skater in the men's Division B 500-meters, tying for ninth placed with a time of 35.96. Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) and Parra tied for 12th place with identical times of 36.04. Alexander Oltrop of The Netherlands won the Division B 500-meters in 35.21.

Pearson was the lone U.S. skater in the men's Division B 1000-meters where he placed 17th with a time of 1:11.38. Japan's Masaaki Kobayashi was first in 1:09.65.

Action resumes Saturday with the ladies' and men's 100- and 500-meters, as well as the demonstration relay races for both ladies and men.

Complete Results:
http://www.scg-nl.nl/events/speedskating/2003-2004/worldcup/saltlakecity/

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• Rodriguez Named USOC Female Athlete of the Month for November

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., December 12, 2003 – The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) today named two-time Olympic speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez and USA Luge's Tony Benshoof as the November Athletes of the Month. The USOC Team of the Month honor was awarded to USA Hockey's Women's Select Team.

Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) kicked off the World Cup season in style by winning five medals and skating to the lead in the 1500m World Cup standings. At the season-opening event in Hamar, Norway, Nov. 8-9, Rodriguez won her first gold medal in the 1500m distance, defeating favorite Anni Friesinger of Germany. The following weekend, in Erfurt, Germany,
Rodriguez again won 1500m gold, as well as gold in the 500m race, en route to the all-around competition title. She ended the month with a bronze medal in the 1500m at the World Cup event in Heerenveen, Netherlands, Nov. 21-23, and maintains her lead at that distance in the World Cup standings after three of five events.

In his eighth season on the senior international luge circuit, Benshoof (White Bear Lake, Minn.) is enjoying his best career start. In November, he claimed two medals, his first international title and a track record. In Altenburg, Germany, Nov. 23-25, Benshoof raced to his first-ever victory when he captured a gold medal in the Challenge Cup. Two days later, he captured his second career World Cup medal, a bronze. His Cup win was also the first U.S. men's single victory on the 1220m long track, and in winning the bronze, Benshoof shattered the previous track record by almost four-tenths of a second.

The U.S. Women's Select Ice Hockey Team earned four wins and the gold medal at the 2003 Four Nations Cup in Skovde, Sweden, Nov. 5-9. Team USA opened the tournament with an 8-0 victory over Finland and went on to blank Canada, 2-0. The U.S. then defeated host Sweden, 5-1, before facing Canada in the gold-medal game that was tied at the end of regulation play. Team USA's Cammi Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.) scored in a shootout for the win. This marked only the second time the U.S. has captured the gold at the Cup and the third time that the U.S. has defeated Canada in a gold-medal situation. U.S. goaltenders Sara DeCosta-Hayes (Warwick, R.I.) and Pam Dreyer (Eagle River, Ark.) combined to earn a 0.49 goals-against average and .977 save percentage, allowing only two goals in 101 shots. The U.S. scored 17 goals on 18 assists for 35 points in four games. Other team
members included back-up goalie Chanda Gunn (Huntington Beach, Calif.), defensemen Jamie Hagerman (Wenham, Mass.), Gen Richardson (Monroe, Conn.), Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich.), Julianne Vasichek (Great Falls, Mont.), Lyndsay Wall (Churchville, N.Y.), Kelly Weiland (Palmer, Alaska) and forwards Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.), Natalie
Darwitz (Edina, Minn.), Tricia Dunn (Derry, N.H.), Kim Insalaco (Rochester, N.Y.), Kathleen Kauth (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), Katie King (Salem, N.H.), Kristen King (Piqua, Ohio), Shelly Looney (Brownstown Twp., Mich.), Jenny Potter (Eagan, Minn.), Kelly Stevens (Seattle, Wash.) and Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.). Head coach for the Women's Select Team was Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass.).

In addition to sharing success with the Team of the Month, Dreyer was runner-up among the female candidates for the Athlete of the Month award. Dreyer recorded two victories against Canada and led the 2003 U.S. Women's Select Team (4-0-0) to its second-ever gold medal at the Four Nations Cup in Skovde. She earned a .986 save percentage and recorded a 0.48 goals-against average, allowing only one goal in 72 shots. In the gold-medal game versus Canada, Dreyer stopped 36 of 37 shots through regulation as well as
all 11 shootout goal attempts by Team Canada to back-stop the U.S. to a gold medal, Dreyer's first of her career.

Third in the voting among the women was freestyle wrestler Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio). Competing for Cumberland College, Montgomery went undefeated during November in four women's freestyle wrestling competitions in Canada. Montgomery, a two-time World silver medalist, won the gold medal at 80kg on Nov. 1 at the McMaster Varsity Championships in Hamilton, Ontario, where she defeated former Canadian World Team member Pam Wilson, leading Cumberland to second place in the team race. At the
Ontario Cup in Toronto, Cumberland won the team title as Montgomery claimed the 80kg division uncontested. Montgomery was also undefeated in the Women's Championship Cup of Wrestling in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Nov. 15 and the Brock Invitational in St. Catherine's on Nov. 30. In the two events, Montgomery had a 7-0 individual record plus two forfeit wins. She scored four pins and two technical falls, plus earned a 6-3 decision over Wilson. Montgomery is currently the No. 1 wrestler in her weight class in the North
American Women's College rankings.

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• It's Deja Vu as Rodriguez Wins 1000-Meter World Cup Event on Second Straight Day

 

CALGARY, Canada, December 7, 2003 - Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) made it a clean sweep of the weekend's 1000-meter World Cup events by winning Sunday's race
at the Olympic Oval.

Rodriguez won Sunday's 1000-meters with a time of 1 minute 15.28 seconds.  On Saturday, she won with a track record time of 1:14.50. Anzhelika Kotyuga of Belarus was second in Sunday's race with a time of 1:15.90.

Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) had her second consecutive fifth-place finish in the 1000-meters on Sunday with a time of 1:16.54.  Elli Ochowicz (Waukesha, Wis.) gave the U.S. three top-10 finishers by placing ninth in 1:17.40.  Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) nearly made it four U.S. skaters in the top 10.  Sannes finished tied for 11th position with a time of
1:17.69.

In the ladies' 500-meter competition, Ochowicz was the top American with a time of 39.30 seconds, which placed her 21st.  Witty finished 22nd with a time of 39.34, while Sannes posted a time of 40.07 to finish 28th.

China's Manli Wang won the race with a time of 38.00. Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) was the top U.S. men's skater on Sunday, finishing seventh in the 1000-meters with a time of 1:09.32.  Erben Wennemars of The Netherlands won with a clocking of 1:07.93.

Other U.S. skaters in the 1000-meters were Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) in 11th with a time of 1:09.48, Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, Wis.) in 12th with a time of 1:09.52, Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) in 20th with a clocking of 1:10.29, and Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) in 25th with a time of 1:10.71. FitzRandolph was the top American in the men's
500-meters with a time of 35.20 to place ninth. Carpenter (35.41) tied for 15th, Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) was 27th in 35.78, Pearson (36.24) finished 34th and Parra (36.43) was 39th.

Canada's Jeremy Wotherspoon won the race with a time of 34.78.

The next sprint World Cup will take place next weekend, Dec. 12-13, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Complete Results:
http://www.scg-nl.nl/events/speedskating/2003-2004/worldcup/calgary/index.html
###
 

• Rodriguez Sets Track Record To Win 1000-Meter World Cup Event in Calgary

 

CALGARY, Canada, December 6, 2003 - Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) topped a field of 35 skaters and set a track record in the process to claim the gold medal in the ladies' 1000-meter World Cup event Saturday at the Olympic Oval.  It is the fourth World Cup medal she has won this season.

Rodriguez skated a time of 1 minute 14.50 seconds to win the event, finishing nearly a full second ahead of Italy's Chiara Simionato who placed second in 1:15.48.

"I really didn't know what to expect today," said Rodriguez.  "Mentally, I wasn't real up for the weekend since I've already had so many World Cup weekends to get up for.  So I just went out and tried to do what I know what works for me.  I focused on getting the skating right instead of the outcome.  I think the reason my racing has been going so well is
that my turns are just really strong right now."

U.S. National Coach Tom Cushman was also very pleased with Rodriguez' record-setting performance.

"The key for Jen really seems to be just getting the skating right,"  Cushman said.  "We don't even talk about results or lap times or the other competitors in the race, just on what she needs to do right to skate well.  And it works.  She got the track record for the 1000 up here in Calgary today and that's a huge accomplishment.  This is one of the fastest tracks in the world, right up there with Salt Lake."

Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) also skated strongly, finishing fifth in a time of 1:16.07.  Other U.S. finishers in the 1000-meters were Elli Ochowicz (Waukesha, Wis.) in 15th with a time of 1:17.90, and Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) in 16th with a time of 1:17.93.

In the ladies' 500-meters, Rodriguez was again the top American skater, placing 10th with a time of 38.58 seconds.  Japan's Shihomi Shinya won the race in 38.07. Ochowicz (38.82) placed 14th, followed by Witty (39.09) in 19th and Sannes (39.39) in 24th.

"I was very pleased with the skaters today," said U.S. National Coach Ryan Shimabukuro.  "This was a strong start to the season.  Jen skated a great 1000-meters and seems to be getting better each time she steps onto the ice.  Chris Witty also skated a strong 1000-meters and is starting to develop her race speed again after track cycling all summer and then getting on the ice in late September.  Elli has had her best World Cup start ever and will get better as each race goes gone.  Amy skated her fastest times of the year in both the 500 and 1000 and is poised to move up in the rankings tomorrow."

In the men's 500-meters, Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, Wis.) was the top American, tying for seventh place with a time of 35.04.  Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) was ninth in 35.10, followed by Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) in 22nd with a personal best time of 35.55, Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) in 37th with a time of 36.25, and Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) in 43rd with a time of 36.70.

Canada's Jeremy Wotherspoon won the event with a time of 34.37.
 
 

Complete Results:
http://www.scg-nl.nl/events/speedskating/2003-2004/worldcup/calgary/

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• Meet Four Time Olympian / Double Medal Winner Chris Thorpe at the Denver 'City Slide' - December 5-6, 2003.  Follow this link for more details.
• Speedskater Rodriguez takes USATODAY.com weekly honor - Posted 11/18/2003 12:00 PM

 

Jennifer Rodriguez is 2-for-2 at 1,500 meters in this season's World Cup competition.
By Christian Seeling, AP

It's also been a good week for J-Rod. Jennifer Rodriguez took overall honors at a four-race speedskating event in Erfurt, Germany, and won her second straight World Cup 1,500-meter race.

For her efforts, Rodriguez (the speedskater, not the shortstop) is USATODAY.com's inaugural U.S. Olympic Athlete of the Week.

The double medalist in the 2002 Olympics won three of the four races over the weekend, sweeping the 500 and 1,500 meters on Saturday and completing her hat trick in Sunday's 1,000 meters. She placed fifth in the 3,000 meters. The two longer races also were World Cup events.
 

• Rodriguez Wins World Cup Allround Competition; U.S. Men Win Team Pursuit

 

ERFURT, Germany, November 16, 2003 - Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) won this weekend's ladies' World Cup allround competition while the U.S. men's squad was victorious in Sunday's team pursuit.

Rodriguez captured the ladies' competition with 158.939 points. On Sunday, Rodriguez won the 1000-meter event and finished fifth in the
3000-meters. She skated a time of 1 minute 17.22 seconds to win the 1000-meters, and posted a time of 4:11.24 in the 3000-meters.  Germany's Anni Friesinger won the 3000-meters with a time of 4:06.33.

During the two-day competition, Rodriguez reached the podium three times. She won both the 500- and 1500-meters on Saturday.

Rodriguez cited her start as the key to the 1000-meter victory.

"I got just the opener I wanted and that first lap came so easily," said Rodriguez of the 1000-meter race.  "My start is getting a lot more solid than it used to be and I think that is making a big difference.  My goal for the race was to get a good opener and then skate some good, relaxed laps.  But when I got into the race I just didn't want to hold back.  Once it got rolling, I kept it rolling."

Rodriguez was also pleased with her fifth-place finish in the 3000-meters.

"That was a really good race for me," Rodriguez said.  "I went into it tired with a lot of skating in my legs, but I skated a very steady race and I thought I paced myself just about right.  I might not have been on the podium in that race today but I proved to myself I can compete with the best in the world in that distance."

Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) finished ninth in Sunday's 3000-meters with a time of 4:13.31.

In the men's 1500-meters on Sunday, the U.S. earned two top-10 finishes.  Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) placed fifth with a time of 1 minute 49.05 seconds, and Chad Hedrick (Magnolia, Texas) was ninth in 1:49.38.  Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) placed
11th with a time of 1:49.49.

World Cup action resumes next Saturday in Heerenveen,
Netherlands.

Complete Results:
http://www.scg-nl.nl/events/speedskating/2003-2004/worldcup/erfurt/

###
 

• Rodriguez already has her skates pointed toward Italy and 2006 - The Associated Press State & Local Wire

 

November 8, 2003, Saturday, BC cycle
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer

A half-second faster here, a second quicker there, and Jennifer Rodriguez would be sitting on a beach right now.

She won two bronze medals at the 2002 Winter Games in Utah, completing an improbable transformation from inline skating champion to medalist on Olympic ice. But the thought of making the flag-draped backdrop of Salt Lake City her final competitive stage didn't even tempt the Miami native, who's more motivated by gold today than ever.

"If I would have won the gold medal, I would have been done," Rodriguez said. "Even if I had skated a great race, I may have been done. But I wasn't happy with one of my races. They were good enough, but I wasn't happy with them. That's why I'm still skating. I can't retire on that note."

So on Saturday, she opened another World Cup season with her U.S. teammates in Hamar, Norway, making the first long, cold strides toward the 2006 Games in Italy - an Olympics which, to Rodriguez, seemed too far away to think much about last year. Now, Turin is her top priority.

"Coming off an Olympics, last year was difficult," Rodriguez said. "Last year was incredibly difficult. Motivation levels had plummeted. This year, I'm ready to go again. This is the year everything starts to build, the year everyone starts thinking Olympics."

Her season got off to a great start Saturday. Rodriguez posted the fastest time in the 3,000 meters Saturday in the World Cup opener, being held at the oval built for the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.

Rodriguez is easily the best skater on the American World Cup roster, which also includes another two-time Olympian in Catherine Raney, Sarah Elliott, Kristine Holzer and 17-year-old promising distance specialist Maria Lamb.

Rodriguez often trains with the American men's team - which includes her husband, KC Boutiette - but is still a role model for the women's side, and it's not simply because of past Olympic success, said U.S. coach Tom Cushman.

"She's just so wonderful to have on the team because she shows up when she's supposed to, she knows what's she supposed to do, she asks for direction, she listens," Cushman said. "When the other athletes see her doing that and being successful, it makes my job easier."

The 27-year-old Rodriguez, who is of Cuban descent, was mentioned among gold-medal favorites in Salt Lake City, especially in her perceived specialty - the 1,000-meter distance. Her plans to be the one standing atop the podium and hear the Star-Spangled Banner lasted only a couple of seconds, however.

Ice is slippery, something that even speedskaters tend to forget occasionally. And Rodriguez slipped during her start of the 1,000, costing her valuable time that is impossible to make up in such a short race. She settled for bronze; fellow American Chris Witty took the gold.

Four days later, another bronze in the 1,500 soothed some of the sting from the disappointing 1,000. Yet even now, when she takes the medals out of her closet and gives them a look, the memories of an unfulfilled dream come flooding back.

"Once I've reached my goals, it's so hard to keep inspired and stay inspired," Rodriguez said. "Some people can do that and I admire them to the utmost. But to me, the bronzes I have are motivation. I don't want another bronze medal. I want a gold medal."

There's still a part of her that has trouble believing how far she's come. In her hometown, ice goes in the drinks, winter clothes are something that your up-north relatives complain about and people break out wool sweaters on those rare occasions when the mercury plummets below 65.

Her skating career started on wheels, both as a racer and figure skater - and there has probably never been anyone better in both disciplines. She's the only person to win medals on roller skates in both speedskating and figure skating. Ice never figured into her thinking.

Then she met Boutiette, another former inline-turned-ice guy. So she moved from sultry Miami to snowy Milwaukee, armed with only a sweat shirt and pair of tights to serve as her warm clothing. She wore his warmest clothes to survive the cold; he taught her nuances of the ice.

Eighteen months later, she was competing in Nagano - and almost medaled in the 3,000, placing fourth. She and Boutiette have been inseparable since.

"They enhance one another," Cushman said. "There are times they train together, watch tapes together, times when he pulls her around the ice to build speed. They
work well together in a lot of ways."

She said this will be the final Olympic go-round for them both. There are plans for a family one day, maybe a return to college, possibly moving back to Miami full-time to work on Rodriguez's dream - building an ice rink so others can follow along her path.

Concrete decisions will have to wait a couple more years, though. Everything now is focused on Turin and one last shot at gold.

"There's still so much I can improve on. That gives me hope and inspiration," she said. "And if there's a day I don't want to work out, I think of the bronze medal. I think of my 1,000-meter race and I think that I can't let that happen again."
 

• U.S. Women's Select Team Earns Gold Medal With Shootout Win Over Canada In Four Nations Cup; Repeat Of 1997:  Granato’s Shootout Goal Clinches Second-ever U.S. Gold In Event History

November 9, 2003 SKÖVDE, Sweden -- With the score still tied following an overtime period, Cammi Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.) scored the game winner in a shootout to lift the 2003 United States Women's Select Team over rival Canada, 2-1, in the gold-medal game of the 2003 Four Nations Cup here this evening. The victory earned Team USA’s first championship at the event since winning the gold medal in1997, when Granato coincidentally also scored the game winner in a shootout.

After 60 minutes of regulation play, the two teams went to a four-on-four five-minute overtime period. The game remained tied, 1-1, through the overtime leading to a sudden-death shootout, in which each team registered 11 shots before U.S. captain Granato deked right and slipped the puck past Canada’s goaltender Charline Labonte. The win marks the second time that the U.S. has ever defeated Canada in a shootout, and the sixth shootout situation overall in the series.

Canada notched the first goal of the game at 14:01 on a shot from Caroline Ouellette. Forward Jayna Hefford sent a pass from behind the net to Ouellette, who slid the puck under U.S. goaltender Pam Dreyer (Eagle River, Alaska) to make the first-period score 1-0.

The U.S. converted on its second power-play opportunity of the second stanza when Granato put the puck past Labonte from the left doorstep to make the score 1-1. Forwards Jenny Potter (Eagan, Minn.) and Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) got the helpers on Granato’s game-tying tally. Canada’s best opportunity in the second period came on a Hefford shot that hit the crossbar and dropped to the goal line, where Dreyer protected the net by lying on the puck.

After three periods of regulation play and a four-on-four five-minute overtime, the score remained despite Canada outshooting the U.S. 37 to 28. Seven different players for Team Canada, and six different players for Team USA, made attempts in the sudden-death shootout, including defenseman Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich.) and forwards Potter, Wendell, Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.), Natalie Darwitz (Edina, Minn.) and Granato. On her third attempt Granato was able to put the puck past Labonte to notch the gold-medal game winner.

"It feels really good," said Granato. "We have only won this tournament once, in 1997, so it is an amazing feeling, I’m just going to savor it."

"The play of Dreyer in the five-minute overtime was extraordinary," said U.S. Head Coach Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass.). "The goaltending in the shootout was spectacular for both sides. Women’s international ice hockey was played at its finest tonight."

Dreyer registered her second win of the tournament and the first gold medal of her career, stopping 27 shots in the game and all 11 of the shootout goal attempts. Ruggiero and Danielle Goyette were named Players of the Game for the U.S. and Canada, respectively, and U.S. forward Wendell was named the best player of the tournament.

Earlier in the day, Finland upset host Sweden, 3-2 in the bronze-medal game, for the second consecutive year.

                                                          *   *   *
CAN   1 0 0 0   0 -- 1
USA   0 1 0 0   1 -- 2

First Period -- Scoring: 1, CAN, Ouellette (Hefford), 14:01. Penalties: Insalaco, USA (hooking), 15:44; Hagerman, USA (interference), 18:44.

Second Period -- Scoring: 1, USA, Granato (Potter, Wendell). Penalties: Hefford, CAN (hooking), 7:37; Vaillancourt, CAN (high sticking), 11:16; Stephens, USA (cross-checking), 15:18.

Third Period -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Dupuis, CAN (roughing), 7:41.

Overtime -- Scoring: None. Penalties: None.

Shootout -- Scoring: 1, USA, Granato (unassisted), 11th round.

Shots: CAN 13-12-8-4--37. USA 9-7-10-1--28.

Goaltenders: CAN, Labonte (28 shots, 27 saves). USA, Dreyer (37 shots, saves).
 
 

• Speedskating - World Cup #1 - Hamar Norway

Rodriguez Wins First-Ever World Cup Gold Medal in 1500-meters  HAMAR, Norway, November 9, 2003 - In the first 1500-meter race of the World Cup season, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) won her first-ever World Cup gold medal at that distance. Rodriguez' time of 1 minute 57.57 seconds easily beat heavy favorite Anni Friesinger of Germany who finished second in 1:58.14. It marked the third medal for the U.S. at the two-day season-opening long track speedskating World Cup event. On Saturday, Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) picked up a bronze medal in the men's 1500-meters, and the U.S. men's team won the gold medal in the team pursuit. Rodriguez, who has won World Cup gold in the 1000-meters, was elated with her first-ever 1500-meter victory. "I was really happy with my first 1500-meter gold in a World Cup," said Rodriguez. "I went out and tried to skate my race my way and it worked." Rodriguez, who earned bronze medals in the 1000- and 1500-meters at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, was wary of German star Claudia Pechstein who was skating in the same pairing. "I was afraid Claudia was going to come back at me in the last turn, but I just kept skating the way that works for me and I finished strong. I'm happy." Pechstein finished fifth overall in 2:00.36. Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) finished 16th with a time of 2:02.27, Maria Lamb (River Falls, Wis.) was 22nd with a time of 2:03.03, Sarah Elliott (Oconomowoc, Wis.) placed 32nd with a time of 2:05.01, and Kristine Holzer (Boise, Idaho) finished 42nd with a time of 2:08.65.  In men's action, KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) won the Division B 5000-meters in a time of 6 minutes 30.23 seconds. Boutiette was skating in Division B because he did not compete in enough races at that distance in last year's World Cups to earn a spot in Division A. But his victory on Sunday will put him back in Division A amongst the world's elite skaters. "It was a very solid race and an extremely solid weekend," Boutiette said. In the men's Division A 5000-meters, Chad Hedrick (Magnolia, Texas) skated to a fifth-place finish with a time of 6:26.74. The Netherlands' Bob de Jong won the race in 6:19.94.  U.S. Speedskating National Coach Tom Cushman was pleased with the team's overall performance at the season-opening World Cup. "We had some great finishes that really stand out, like Derek's bronze and Jen's gold and the gold in the men's pursuit," said Cushman. "But I am also pleased by the depth of the performances. For instance, in the men's 5000-meters, all five of our guys skated times that put them among the top 25 of the times skated today. That's serious progress from years gone by. I'm pleased because I know we are still developing and the best is yet to come." World Cup action resumes this Saturday in Erfurt, Germany. Sunday's Results Complete Results at: http://www.scg-nl.nl/events/speedskating/2003-2004/worldcup/hamar/ Ladies' 1500-meters - 1, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 1 minute 57.57 seconds. 2, Anni Friesinger, Germany, 1:58.14. 3, Renate Groenewold, Netherlands, 1:59.44. Other Americans: 16, Catherine Raney, Elm Grove, Wis., 2:02.27. 22, Maria Lamb, River Falls, Wis., 2:03.03. 32, Sarah Elliott, Oconomowoc, Wis., 2:05.01. 42, Kristine Holzer, Boise, Idaho, 2:08.65. Ladies' 4400-meter Team Pursuit - 1, Japan, 3 minutes 5.30 seconds. 2, Germany, 3:06.09. 3, Russia, 3:06.97. Men's Division A 5000-meters - 1, Bob de Jong, Netherlands, 6 minutes 19.94 seconds. 2, Carl Verheijen, Netherlands, 6:21.79. 3, Lasse Saetre, Norway, 6:24.64. Americans: 5, Chad Hedrick, Magnolia, Texas, 6:26.74. Men's Division B 5000-meters - 1, KC Boutiette, Tacoma, Wash., 6:30.23. 2, Rene Taubenrauch, Germany, 6:35.30. 3, Jens Boden, Germany, 6:35.71. Other Americans: 5, Clay Mull, Gastonia, N.C., 6:38.32. 9, Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 6:39.44. 11, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 6:40.18. ###

Parra Claims Bronze at Season-Opening World Cup; U.S. Men Win Team Pursuit                                                                 HAMAR, Norway, November 8, 2003 - Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) claimed a bronze medal in the men's 1500-meters on the opening day of the long track World Cup season Saturday. Parra, who won a gold medal in the 1500-meters and a silver in the 5000-meters at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, skated a time of 1 minute 48.80 seconds to finish third.  "I haven't been happy with my preparation for this season and I've been having a lot of skate trouble," said Parra.  "So I was pretty surprised with the results today.  It's great to be able to make that trip to the podium again." The Netherlands' Erben Wennemars won the event with a time of 1:47.37.  Chad Hedrick (Magnolia, Texas) joined Parra in the top 10, placing eighth with a time of 1:49.40.  KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) finished 11th in 1:49.94, followed by Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) in 18th place with a time of 1:50.76, and Tim Hoffmann (Waukesha, Wis.) in 26th with a clocking of 1:51.76. Also on Saturday, the U.S. men's team won the eight-lap team pursuit in which two teams start on opposite sides of the track and skate eight laps.  Each team consists of three men and the time is taken from the third skater for each country to cross the finish line.  The U.S. won the event with a time of 3 minutes 49.85 seconds. "It was a good, solid race," said Boutiette of the team pursuit victory.  "I am looking forward to a continued solid weekend." In the ladies' competition on Saturday, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) had to skate the 3000-meter event in the second-level Division B because she sat out that distance last year and, therefore, had no World Cup ranking going into the competition.  However, she turned in the fastest time of all the skaters in Divisions A or B with a time of 4 minutes 7.07 seconds.  Her victory will move her up to Division A. "It was such a good race and I was kind of surprised because the 3000 is not always my strongest distance," Rodriguez said.  "But that was a good, even-paced, strong race for me.  I'm happy." Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.), the only American woman in the Division A 3000-meters, finished 10th with a time 4:14.95.  Anni Friesinger of Germany won Division A with a time of 4:07.31.  In the Division B 3000-meters, Maria Lamb (River Falls, Wis.) placed sixth with a time of 4:18.93, and Kristine Holzer (Boise, Idaho) finished 21st in 4:28.76.  The United States' performance pleased U.S. Speedskating National Coach Tom Cushman. "We have a strong, deep team this year," Cushman said.  "The training that the skaters have been doing this summer and fall is definitely showing in their racing.  From Jen's terrific 3000-meter race, to the men's victory in the team pursuit, to Maria Lamb's very strong 3000 race, I think we are positioned to build throughout the season and to just get stronger and stronger and stronger." The men's 5000-meters and the ladies' 1500-meters and team pursuit are on tomorrow's slate.  Sunday's action concludes the two-day event. Saturday's Results Complete Results can be found at: http://www.scg-nl.nl/vervolg.ws Ladies' Division A 3000-meters - 1, Anni Friesinger, Germany, 4 minutes 7.31 seconds.  2, Claudia Pechstein, Germany, 4:08.06.  3, Renate Groenewold, Netherlands, 4:08.39.  Americans: 10, Catherine Raney, Elm Grove, Wis., 4:14.95.  Ladies' Division B 3000-meters - 1, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 4:07.07.  2, Maki Tabata, Japan, 4:12.64.  3, Valentina Yakshina, Russia, 4:12.76.  Other Americans: 6, Maria Lamb, River Falls, Wis., 4:18.93.  21, Kristine Holzer, Boise, Idaho, 4:28.76. Men's 1500-meters - 1, Erben Wennemars, Netherlands, 1 minute 47.37 seconds.  2, Mark Tuitert, Netherlands, 1:47.55.  3, Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 1:48.80.  Other Americans: 8, Chad Hedrick, Magnolia, Texas, 1:49.40.  11, KC Boutiette, Tacoma, Wash., 1:49.94.  18, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 1:50.76.  26, Tim Hoffmann, Waukesha, Wis., 1:51.76. Men's Eight-lap Team Pursuit - 1, United States, 3 minutes 49.85 seconds.  2, Italy, 3:50.68.  3, Netherlands, 3:51.28. ###

• Womens' Sports Foudation - The Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner is a truly unique event. Each October, the Women’s Sports Foundation gathers the most decorated female athletes together with celebrities from film and television to celebrate the achievements of women in sports and highlight the best individual and team performances of the year. This year, the event raised over $1 million for grassroots programming for girls and women’s sports. More than 100 exceptional women were presented in the Grand March of Athletes (including Cammi Granato), culminating with the Women’s Sports Foundation Founder and Honorary Chair Billie Jean King. After dinner, the awards ceremony commenced.  read more here

• MANA, A NATIONAL LATINA ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES LAS PRIMERAS® AWARDS GALA "Honoring Latina Achievement"

 

Washington, D.C., September 23, 2003 - MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA) will host its 14th annual Las Primeras® Awards Gala on Thursday, September 25, 2003 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC Las Primeras honors Latinas who have achieved "firsts" in their career or field. This black tie event is one of the key events held during the kick-off week of Hispanic Heritage Month and approximately 300 public, private, and non-profit sector leaders as well as Members of Congress and key administration officials attend the event every year.

Alma Morales Riojas, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization (MANA) announced the names of this year's Las Primeras® awardees as well as the recipients of the HerMANO and HerMANA Awards, Corporation of the Year, and the new HERMANITAS® Award.

This year, MANA will honor women from many fields: Arts, Barbara Martinez-Jitner, Executive Producer of American Family; Business, Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, Founder and CEO of Lulu's Desserts; Communications, Gloria Rodriguez, President of MAPA Communications; Education, Maria L. Tukeva, Principal of Bell Multicultural High School; Leadership, The Honorable Petra Jimenez Maes, Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court; Military Service, Linda Garcia Cubero, first Latina to graduate from a military academy; Public Service, Irma Maldonado, President of HMA Associates, Inc.; and Sports, Jennifer Rodriguez, Olympic Bronze-Medalist in Speedskating.

Past recipients of the Las Primeras® Award include the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Latina elected to Congress; Dr. Antonia Novello, first Latina to become Surgeon General; Dr. Ellen Ochoa, first Latina astronaut; and the Honorable Rosario Marin, United States Treasurer, and the first Latina immigrant to hold a position at this high a level in any Administration.

MANA will honor General Motors with the Corporation of the Year Award for the company's strong advocacy and leadership in support of the University of Michigan case on Affirmative Action. Katy Barclay, Global Vice President for Human Resources, will accept the award.

The HerMANO and HerMANA Awards are awarded to individuals who have advanced issues of importance to Latinas and Hispanic communities. This year, MANA honors The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, with the HerMANA Award for her work in creating better opportunities and awareness of Hispanics in the labor force and in business ownership. The Honorable Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) will receive the HerMANO Award for his support of MANA's programs, community programs for Latinos, and legislation to support Hispanics.

The inaugural Hermanitas® Award will be presented to Sandra E. Ulsh, President of the Ford Motor Company Fund. Ms. Ulsh will be recognized for leadership and vision in support of young Latinas, for recognizing the value of mentoring, and for making it possible to train trainers of mentors in the inaugural class of the AvanZamos® Fellowship Program.

Sponsors as of the date of this release are the following: Daimler-Chrysler Corporation Fund as the Platinum Sponsor; General Motors Corporation and State Farm Insurance Companies as Silver Sponsors; American Express, Coors Brewing Company, Ford Motor Company Fund, Lifetime Television, National SER-Jobs for Progress, Nordstrom, PBS, as Bronze Sponsors, and the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) and LatinaStyle Magazine as Friend Sponsors.

To find out more about sponsorship opportunities or Las Primeras, contact the National Office at
(202) 833-0060 or by email at manadaisy@aol.com.
 

• American women's hockey team chosen for Four Nations Cup in Sweden

The Associated Press
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Cammi Granato and Angela Ruggiero were among seven two-time Olympians selected Tuesday for the U.S. women's hockey team that will play in the Four Nations Cup in Sweden.

The tournament, to be held Nov. 5-9, pits the United States against Canada, Sweden and Finland in a matchup of the biggest powers in women's hockey.

The U.S. team was to play earlier this year in the World Championships in Beijing but that was canceled due to the SARS outbreak.

"With the USA Hockey National Women's Program having been away from international competition for an extended period, there are heightened feelings and added incentive for the Four Nations Tournament," said coach Ben Smith, who also led the team in the Nagano and Salt Lake City Olympics.

Granato and Ruggiero played for the U.S. team that won the Olympic gold medal in 1998 and the silver medal in 2002. Also on those teams were goaltender Sara DeCosta-Hayes and forwards Tricia Dunn, Katie King, Shelley Looney and Jenny Potter.

Four other members of the 2002 Olympic team, defenseman Lyndsay Wall and forwards Julie Chu, Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell, will play in this tournament as well.

The rest of the roster is: Chanda Gunn and Pam Dreyer, goaltenders; Jamie Hagerman, Gen Richardson, Kerry Weiland and Julianne Vasichek, defensemen; and forwards Kim Insalaco, Kristin King, Kathleen Kauth and Kelly Stephens.
 

• Cammi Granato at Q Sports -Two time Olympian, gold and silver medalist, and  hockey legend Cammi Granato is the latest star athlete to call Q Sports home.  Cammi is the biggest name in the history of women's hockey and she has set her sights on adding another gold medal to her collection at the 2006 Olympic games in Torino, Italy.  For more info follow this link to her webpage.

• American Chiropractic Association Re-signs Parra  7/1/03 - The ACA (http://www.acatoday.com) has announced that the organization has renewed the endorsement agreement of speedskating champion Derek Parra to extend throughout the 2003-2004 speedskating season.  The agreement, originally established in early 2001, includes the option for the ACA to stick by Parra throughout the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.

"I'm really excited to continue the relationship with the ACA" said Parra.  "Not only for the chiropractic care, but it means a lot to me when companies or organizations that I've been involved with in the past think enough of me and what I've accomplished that they stick with me."

Details of the deal were not disclosed but the renewal of the agreement is said to consist of the same terms or the original agreement.

"The ACA took me on  and stood by me long before anyone knew my name, with no guarantees of anything.  They just wanted to help me realize a dream.   Now that I'm a gold medalist, I know that my market value has gone up, but now it's my turn to return the favor to the ACA.  That's why I insisted the renewal be under the same terms as the original deal.  I think it's only fair."

"Our affiliation with Derek Parra has been extremely rewarding for the American Chiropractic Association and the chiropractic profession as a whole.  Derek is a uniquely gifted competitor, an Olympic superstar and, above all, a first-class human being.  His appearance at our annual House of Delegates meeting was particularly touching, and we are proud to continue to support his efforts" said Dr. Daryl D. Wills, President of the ACA.

About ACA (http://www.acatoday.com)
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), based in Arlington, VA, is the largest professional association in the world representing doctors of chiropractic. The ACA provides lobbying, public relations, professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, funds research regarding chiropractic and health issues, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession. With approximately 18,000 members, the ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.

Rodriguez & Parra; Evidence of Growing Latino Influence  6/19/2003 6:39 AM - 39 million make Hispanics largest U.S. minority group

By Haya El Nasser, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Hispanics outnumber blacks as the largest minority group in the USA for the first time since the government began counting the nation's population more than two centuries ago.
The U.S. Census Bureau's announcement Wednesday confirmed what many have treated as fact for some time. Even so, it's a symbolic milestone for a nation whose history has been dominated by black-white racial dynamics. Increased racial and ethnic diversity is adding a new dimension to everything from product marketing to political campaigning.

There are 38.8 million Hispanics in the USA, according to the latest Census Bureau estimates released Wednesday. The figures, as of July 1, show a 9.8% increase since the Census was taken in April 2000.

The U.S. population grew 2.5% to 288.4 million in the same period. Hispanics accounted for half of the national increase. Non-Hispanic blacks, including people who say they're black and another race, grew at a much slower rate than Hispanics, up 3.1%, to 36.6 million. Hispanics make up 13% of the nation's population. The number of Asians also surged. They're up 9% to 13.1 million.

The population gains by Hispanics reflect a society that has already embraced Spanish TV and election ballots in Spanish. The Hispanic population is soaring because of immigration and higher birth rates.

Black and Hispanic groups were quick to emphasize common ground rather than differences.

"They keep trying to pit the African-American community against Hispanics when indeed we have a lot more in common than we have in disagreement," Hilary Shelton of the NAACP says. "The Hispanic community is made up of very many different racial groups. African-Americans are still the largest racial minority group."

That's true because the government considers Hispanic an ethnic classification, which means Hispanics can be black, white, Asian or any race. There are 1.7 million blacks who identified themselves as Hispanic. Add them to the black population column, and blacks total more than 38 million.

How they're changing America

The steady surge of Hispanics has changed the fabric of life in the United States, from food on grocery shelves, movies and the bedsheets children sleep on to the rosters of professional sports teams:

• Nickelodeon's bilingual Dora the Explorer is the No. 2 pre-school show on commercial TV, leading Anglo as well as Hispanic tykes to sleep on Dora sheets that say Buenos noches. A fraction of the audience for George Lopez, one of ABC's top comedies last season, is Hispanic. And Fox, already the top major network among Hispanics, is adding two Hispanic family comedies this fall.

• Hispanics represent 15% of movie-ticket sales, higher than their share of the population. The box-office careers of Cameron Diaz (Charlie's Angels), actress-singer Jennifer Lopez (Maid in Manhattan) and director Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids) are evidence of Hispanics' broadening appeal. The 2002 Academy Awards celebrated the year of the Hispanic, after Latin artists and Hispanic-themed work collected 10 nominations, including six for a biography of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, played by Salma Hayek, a Mexican.

• Latin radio stations account for 7%-8% of the radio audience, up from 5% five years ago, according to Airplay Monitor editor Sean Ross. More stations are sprouting in places outside Florida, Texas, California and New York. There's a Latin FM station in Raleigh, N.C.

• The Latin explosion in mainstream pop music is evident in the success of Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony, who began their careers as Spanish-language singers. Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira and Jennifer Lopez are multi-platinum sellers.

• Time Inc. launched People en Espanol in 1997. Circulation has since doubled to 414,000 to make it the top-selling Spanish-language magazine in the USA.

• Hispanics are starring in sports they had never been associated with before. The National Hockey League has its first Hispanic, Scott Gomez of Alaska, rookie of the year three years ago. Last year, speedskaters Derek Parra and Jennifer Rodriguez became the first Hispanics to win Winter Olympic medals. Parra is Mexican-American, and Rodriguez is Cuban-American.

Hispanics are also the largest minority in Major League Baseball. Alex Rodriguez, a Dominican-American born in New York and raised in Miami, is the game's highest paid player at $25 million a year. Arturo Moreno became the first Hispanic owner of a team when he recently bought the Anaheim Angels. Moreno has said he doesn't want to be thought of as a minority owner. When asked a question in Spanish at a news conference, the fourth-generation American answered in English. "The first thing is I'm an American," he said. "I'm proud to be a Mexican-American, but as far as being the first minority, I think most of us are immigrants from some place."

• The National Basketball Association this past season became the first major U.S. sports league to offer national TV coverage on Spanish-language stations. Later this year, ESPN will launch a full-time sports channel in Spanish. Next year, for the 2004 Summer Games, NBC will carry 134 hours of Olympic coverage in Spanish on its Telemundo network.

Tensions arise

Despite efforts by both political parties to reach out to Hispanics, the surge in their numbers creates clashes between blacks and Hispanics, Anglos and Hispanics and Asians and Hispanics. Because so many Hispanics are newcomers, there are disputes over jobs, political power, schools and lifestyle.

   HISPANICS AT A GLANCE

Hispanics, who can be of any race, make up 13% of the U.S. population. A breakdown:

By region{+1}
Northeast 13.3%
Midwest 7.7%
South 34.8%
West 44.2%
By age
Under age 18 34.4%
18-64 60.5%
65 and older 5.1%
Origin
Mexican 66.9%
Central and South American  14.3%
Puerto Rican 8.6%
Cuban 3.7%
Other 6.5%
Educational attainment
Less than 9th grade 27.0%
9-12 grade (no diploma) 16.0%
High school graduate or some college  45.9%
Bachelor's degree or more 11.1%

1 — Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming

Source: The Hispanic Population in the United States March 2002, Census Bureau

"It can be very destroying to think of this in horse-race terms," says Roberto Suro, who directs the Pew Hispanic Center, a think tank at the University of Southern California. "The milestone here is not the relationship between (blacks and Hispanics), but the way the U.S. population is changing. ... It's an official affirmation of a different era."

The recent influx of Hispanic immigrants to North Carolina caused friction in cities such as Durham, says Jennifer Nevin, 28, a recent Duke University graduate. A battle broke out there between longtime residents and Hispanics over funding of school programs in English as a second language.

In border states such as California, Arizona and Texas, many people are upset about the flow of illegal immigrants. Similar sentiments are expressed elsewhere.

"I'm not against Hispanics — just the illegals," says Bob Gillingham, 66, a retired printer who enjoys living in an ethnically diverse neighborhood in Arlington, Va. He resents undocumented immigrants using public services such as health care. "Why don't we just make Mexico the 51st state?"

It's not surprising to the NAACP's Shelton that the Census Bureau marked this seminal moment by announcing the latest numbers at a convention of the League of the United Latin American Citizens. "It's quite transparent that the Bush administration is courting the Hispanic vote," he says.

So have most national candidates. Both political parties are competing fiercely for Hispanic voters, who made up 7% of the electorate in 2000, according to exit polls. Republican strategists believe Bush, who won 35% of the Hispanic vote that year, can't lose if he gets 40% in 2004.

Tactics used by both Democrats and Republicans range from Web sites in Spanish to setting up booths at citizenship ceremonies to register voters on the spot.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is the first Hispanic governor since 1986.

On Capitol Hill, there are 23 Hispanics in the U.S. House of Representatives — 19 are Democrats, and four are Republicans. There are no Hispanics in the Senate.

Republicans recently began Spanish lessons for members of the House and the Senate. Democrats have been studying Spanish for some time. "The launch of Spanish on the Hill shows we are serious about working with Spanish-speaking America," says Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Ill., who organized the classes.

National candidates may be going after Hispanic voters, but Hispanics remain a small constituency despite their huge numbers.

"They are not yet a voting bloc," says Jeffrey Passel, demographer at the Urban Institute in Washington. He points out that many can't vote. One of seven Hispanics is in the USA illegally, and others can't vote because they're not yet naturalized citizens. Also, Passel says, many Hispanics born here are too young to vote.

There may be more Hispanics than blacks, but there are still twice as many black voters as Hispanic ones. According to Suro of the Pew Hispanic Center: 5% of non-Hispanic blacks were not citizens in 2000, compared with 39% of Hispanics.

Beyond that, Hispanics are not a homogeneous group — politically or culturally. Many see themselves as having separate and distinct cultures based on their countries of origin. Cubans in Miami are largely conservative and Republican. Mexicans in Los Angeles and Puerto Ricans in New York, on the other hand, are more liberal on many issues and largely Democrats.

"Blacks on an average vote Democratic 85%; for Hispanics it's 70%," says Ronald Walters, political science professor at the University of Maryland. "But there are some themes that run through the (Hispanic) group, such as immigrant issues, social services, bilingual education, employment."

Growing market

It's not easy to appeal to Hispanics with one message, whether offering politics, music or frozen foods. Hispanic cuisine differs markedly from region to region and country to country. Many Hispanics who were born in this country don't speak Spanish or listen to Spanish-language media.

"Consumers don't think or act a certain way based on the color of their skin as much as their household income, age and gender," says Christopher Kelley, author of a recent study by the Forrester research company.

The growth of Hispanics has sparked a surge in entrepreneurship and in the number of companies owned by Hispanics in the USA. There are more than 1.1 million such companies, four times the number two decades ago.

That number displaces African-Americans as owners of the most minority-owned companies.

Hispanics now own one of every 20 U.S. companies, the latest Census data show.

More of them are becoming big businesses. Nearly 27,000 have annual revenue of $1 million or more, which puts them in the corporate elite. They include giants such as MasTec, a telecommunications services company based in Miami. MasTec has about 10,000 employees in the USA and Brazil, and it boasts more than $800 million in annual revenue.

Demographer Passel estimates that in the next half-century, there will be twice as many Hispanics as blacks in the nation. But the rate of intermarriage is climbing among all racial and ethnic groups.

"In 50 years, we'll probably be using different categories to classify the U.S. population," Passel says. "The boundaries are going to become much fuzzier. ... We don't know in that sense what it'll mean to be Hispanic in 50 years."

Contributing: Kathy Kiely, Chuck Johnson, Rod Beaton, Jill Lawrence, Lorrie Grant, Susan Wloszczyna, Michael Hiestand and Emma Schwartz in Washington; Jim Hopkins in San Francisco; Gary Levin and Peter Johnson in New York; Elysa Gardner in Los Angeles; Tom Weir in Nashville; and the Associated Press.
 
 

Olympic Hero and Stay-at-home Dad - June 15. 2003

Special to The Gainesville Sun   - by RAJA ABDULRAHIM

Economics often drives the decision for dad, not mom, to stay home with the kids.  His Olympic skills put to test, Chris Thorpe, a two-time Olympic medalist who lives in Gainesville, says his training in the double luge has given him the stamina necessary to be a stay-at-home dad.

Being a father is harder than he expected, and he says the organization skills and endurance he gained as an athlete have helped him keep up with his 15-month-old daughter, Skylar.

"[It has been] 10 times harder," says Thorpe, 32. "I thought I'd be playing patty cake, pushing her in the swing. I thought it would be la la land."

Thorpe says he is used to dealing with pressure as an athlete, so when things get tough with Skylar, a lively, active toddler, he switches to "athlete mode" and is able to get through it. Whereas athletic training is physically draining, being a dad is also mentally draining.

Thorpe has been staying home with Skylar now for nine months, ever since his wife, Kristean - also a former Olympic athlete, in freestyle skiing - entered medical school at UF. The Thorpes moved to Gainesville from Daytona Beach. Before that, they lived in Lake Placid, N.Y.

"I thought my career was over when the baby came," Thorpe says, pushing Skylar in a swing as she laughs and shrieks.

Thorpe planned to retire after the 2002 Olympics, but thanks to a Home Depot sponsorship, he plans to try out for the 2006 Olympics in Italy and now trains every day with his daughter in tow. As Skylar grows and becomes more mobile, Thorpe says he is finding it harder to keep up with her.

"I feel like I'm training to keep up with her and not my sport," says Thorpe, who won a silver in the Nagano Olympics and a bronze in the Salt Lake City Olympics.

Eventually, Thorpe's training will create further complications in his life as an at-home dad. In October, he will begin training on luge tracks up north, instead of the dad-friendly conditioning of recent months in Gainesville.

Ordinarily, Olympic training would have required a six-month stay for Thorpe up north. So as not to be away from Skylar for too long, Thorpe says instead he plans to make a few two-week training trips.

While he is gone, Skylar will be cared for either by Kristean's mother, who will travel from New Hampshire, or be placed in day care.

As Skylar tries to climb onto the kitchen table from Thorpe's lap, he scoops her up and places her on the floor. Skylar begins to cry and runs to a corner, where she throws a mini-tantrum.

"Yeah," he says with a laugh. "It's tough love in this house."

Thorpe says he knows few other stay-at-home dads - he only recently met Christopher Glymph. He says he would like to join or start a support group "just so you can get some things off your chest."

Thorpe has always had a support staff when he has trained for competition, so he knows well the value of a support network.

Thorpe says he gets few negative reactions from people; most are supportive. When Thorpe takes Skylar to the park, he says he gets many questions from the moms there.

"They ask 'Oh you have the kid today?' " Thorpe says. "I say 'no, I have the kid everyday.' "

Despite some of the reactions, Thorpe says he feels lucky to stay home with his daughter and wishes more parents had that opportunity. Being a parent requires him to make time sacrifices, he says, but ultimately it will be worth it.

"We will see in about 13 or 18 years," he says. "I can say I raised a damn good kid."
 
 

• Thorpe Headlines "Good Sports Nite"

June 11, 2003

OLATHE, Kan. – The Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) is offering a special program, “Good Sports Nite”, at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida on Friday, June 13 from 6:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention.

CTSA is the single largest coalition of professional and amateur organizations in the United States, focused on character in sport. The alliance promotes fair play at all levels from youth leagues to professional associations to reinforce the value of sport as a test of character. Twelve of its members, including the NFL (National Football League, NBA (National Basketball Association), MLB (Major League Baseball), NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), NAIA (National Association Intercollegiate Athletics) and the USOC (United States Olympic Committee), will be in Orlando to honor outstanding professional and amateur athletes for their commitment to sport.

On Friday, June 13, CTSA is hosting “Good Sports Nite” at the Central Florida Boys and Girls Club (5055 Raleigh Street, Orlando, FL.) The event will provide fun, hands-on physical activities for kids and short programs for adults on the role of parents in athletics. Featured will be the USOC’s Champions in Life, the NCAA’s Character Discovery Challenge and the NAIA’s Champions of Character programs.

U.S. Olympians Dot Richardson, Chris Thorpe and Mark Ruiz will share their athletic experiences in the USOC’s Champions in Life program. Richardson captained the Olympic softball teams that took home gold medals in both 1996 and 2000. She is not only a gold medalist, but also a highly skilled orthopedic surgeon and medical director at the USA National Training Center in Orlando, Florida. Thorpe, a four-time Olympian in the luge, won a silver medal in 1998 and a bronze medal in 2002. Ruiz, a 2000 Olympian and 2004 Olympic hopeful, was the 1999 Pan American Games diving champion on the three-meter springboard.

The Orlando community is also invited to join CTSA member organizations and area sports leaders Sunday evening, June 15, for the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance Awards presentation at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Individuals will be recognized for their commitment to citizenship, sportsmanship, ethical conduct and community service. 2003 honorees include U.S. Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, Philadelphia Phillie Jim Thome, Jennifer Gillom of the Phoenix Mercury, the Ohio State University’s Andy Geiger, the University of Buffalo’s women’s soccer team, and many more. Pat Williams, Orlando Magic General Manager, is the event’s featured speaker. For free ticket information, please contact Ted Breidenthal at tbreidenthal@sportsmanship.org.

For more information, please contact Kelly Noonan, NAIA, (913) 791-0044 or J. Michael Wilson, USOC, 719-866-4549.
 

• Thorpe in NYC...USOC announces Roots will outfit the U.S. Olympic Team through 2008

By Cheryl Herbert // USOC Public Relations // May 16, 2003

NEW YORK, N.Y. -– The United States Olympic Committee announced today that Roots will be an official outfitter of the United States Olympic Team through 2008 with options for outfitting the 2010 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Teams. As an official outfitter, Roots will provide U.S. Olympic Teams with the parade uniform (Opening and Closing Ceremonies) as well as athletic and casual wear for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Michael Budman, co-founder of Roots, and Jim Grice, USOC Chief of Sales & Marketing, made the announcement during a press conference at the new Roots Boutique at the NBC Experience Store in New York City.

“Roots is extremely proud of its extended relationship with the United States Olympic Committee and more importantly with the athletes that make up each U.S. Olympic Team. Our mantra at Roots has always been ‘its all about the athletes’. We are thrilled to outfit the U.S. Olympic Teams for the next three Olympic Games. We look forward to helping both the winter and summer U.S. athletes look stylish and feel proud when they represent America on the world stage during the Olympics,” said Budman.

Roots catapulted into the U.S athletic lifestyle scene with the resounding success of the 2002 U.S. Olympic Team uniforms and casual wear worn by Olympic athletes and hopefuls before and during the Games in Salt Lake City. As a result, Roots has fast become a household name in the USA for fashion-forward apparel and athletic wear.

With the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens fast approaching, Roots is already embracing the challenge of creating a unique and stylish U.S. Olympic Team apparel line for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team athletes. Members of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team will be dressed in a warm-weather designed uniform when they parade into the Olympic Stadium for the opening of the Games of the XXVIIIth Olympiad.

“In speaking with our athletes from the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, they constantly reinforced that the Roots U.S. Team apparel gave them a psychological boost because of how comfortable the clothing was and how stylish it looked,” said Grice. “Roots is one of the world’s most respected authentic lifestyle brands in athletic wear. We are excited about this long-term commitment with Roots to outfit our future U.S. Olympic Teams.”

From Opening Ceremonies with President George W. Bush to the podium and concerts at Medals Plaza and into the after-glow of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, U.S. Olympians and notables were seen worldwide wearing their Roots U.S. Olympic Team fashions.

In addition to the athletes seen wearing 2002 U.S. Olympic Team apparel, other Roots toting U.S. Olympic Team fashion celebrities included two-time figure skating gold medalist Katarina Witt of Germany, supermodel Heidi Klum, the band N*SYNC, performer Marc Anthony, television hosts Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and Katie Couric as well as singer Sheryl Crow.

Also announced during the USOC/Roots press conference was the opening of the THE ROOTS BOUTIQUE within the NBC Experience Store. The Roots Boutique will carry Roots designed U.S. Olympic Team apparel, New York 2012 bid wear, as well as Saturday Night Live and other NBC related merchandise.

On hand to celebrate the Roots announcement was comedian and event Master of Ceremonies Dan Aykroyd, who took a break from his Saturday Night Live rehearsals. Aykroyd will host the May 17 SNL broadcast. Also present were U.S. Olympians, hopefuls and Paralympians including two-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist Dan O'Brien (Moscow, Idaho/decathlon), four-time Olympian and Olympic silver and bronze medalist Chris Thorpe (Gainesville, Fla./luge), 2004 Paralympic hopeful April Holmes (Sommerdale, Pa./track and field), and two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2004 U.S. Olympic hopeful Beth Botsford (Timonium, Md./swimming).

• Parra Named USOC Athlete of the Year Finalist - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Cyclist Lance Armstrong, figure skater Sarah Hughes and the Women’s Bobsled Team have been voted the 2002 United States Olympic Committee SportsMan, SportsWoman and Team of the Year, respectively.

The USOC SportsMan and SportsWoman of the Year awards have been presented annually since 1974 to the top overall male and female athlete from within the USOC member organizations. The team award was added in 1996. Voters for the awards include national media, the USOC Board of Directors and the USOC Athletes' Advisory Council. Winners are selected from the individual female and male Athlete of the Year and Team of the Year nominations of the National Governing Bodies for the Olympic, Pan American, Affiliated and Disabled Sports Organizations within the U.S. Olympic movement.

For a complete listing of past winners go to USOC All-time Athletes.

Previously honored by the USOC as its 1999 and 2001 SportsMan of the Year, Armstrong joins speedskater Eric Heiden (1977, 1979, 1980) and sprinter Michael Johnson (1993, 1995, 1996) as a three-time USOC SportsMan of the Year.

Armstrong (Austin, Texas) won his fourth consecutive Tour de France in 2002 and is the first American to accomplish this feat. He also was first in the Grand Prix du Midi-Libre, France; first in the Dauphine Libere, France; second in the Criterium International, France; and fourth in the Amstel Gold Race, Holland.

The Olympic gold medalist in ladies’ figure skating at Salt Lake City, Hughes (Great Neck, N.Y.) placed third in the 2002 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships and finished third in the ISU Grand Prix Final.

The team of Jill Bakken (Park City, Utah) and Vonetta Flowers (Helena, Ala.) won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport of women’s bobsled at the 2002 Games.

SportsMan of the Year nominees finishing in that category’s top five along with Armstrong were Speedskating’s Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.), Skiing’s Bode Miller (Franconia, N.H.), Bobsled’s Brian Shimer (Naples, Fla.) and Track & Field’s Tim Montgomery (Cary, N.C.).

"I sure don't like to lose, anything, but simply to be included in the same sentence with Lance Armstrong is an honor in itself.  It was an incredible year for me, and to be recognized by the folks at the USOC means a great deal, espeically in light of all the talented athletes they have to choose from."
                                                                                                                                                                                ...Derek Parra

Following Hughes in the SportsWoman of the Year balloting were tennis player Serena Williams (Palm Springs Gardens, Fla.), speedskater Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) and swimmer Natalie Coughlin (Concord, Calif.), who tied in third place, and snowboarder Kelly Clark (Mount Snow, Vt.).

Other top vote-getters for the Team of the Year honor were the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, the USA Basketball Women’s World Championship Team, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, and USA Softball’s Women’s National Team.
 

• Olympic Silver Medalist Bill Schuffenhauer joins Q Sports - visit his webpage for details by following this link.

• U.S. Speedskating Enjoys Most Successful Season Ever With 69 Medals

 

  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 1, 2003 - There was no sign of a post-Olympic year letdown for the U.S. Speedskating teams during the recently concluded 2002-2003 season.  Coming off a best-ever 11-medal performance at the 2002 Salt Lake Games, U.S. skaters continue to be a force on the international circuits.    The long track and short track teams combined for 69 medals in international competitions over the course of the season.

Heading the charge for the long track team was two-time Olympic bronze medalist Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.).  Rodriguez reached the podium 14 times at international competitions, compiling three gold, six silver and five bronze medals.  She was the World Allround Champion in the 500-meters, won a silver and bronze at the World Single Distances Championships and finished the World Cup season in third-place in the 1500-meter standings.  Rodriguez also won both 1000-meter races and one 1500-meter event at the U.S. National Championships.

Accompanying Rodriguez frequently on the podium was 2002 Olympic gold medalist Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.).  Witty amassed seven medals (four silver and three bronze) on her way to a second-place overall finish in the 1000-meter World Cup rankings.

On the men’s side, Olympic medalists Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) and Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) were the season’s top performers.  Parra got off to a great start, winning the overall title at the second World Cup event of the year in Erfurt, Germany, Nov. 15-17.  He finished the campaign with five medals (two gold, one silver and two bronze), and was ranked second in the World Cup standings for the 1500-meters.

Cheek came on strong in the second half of the season, tallying seven medals including a gold in the 1000-meters at the World Sprint Championships in Calgary and two bronze at the World Single Distances Championships in Berlin.  He also topped the final sprint standings at the U.S. National Championships after winning all four of the 500- and  1000-meter events.

Also reaching the World Cup podium this season were Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) and Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.).  Pearson won silver and bronze medals in the 1000-meters at the Dec. 7-8 World Cup in Nagano, Japan, and Carpenter earned a bronze in the 500-meters at the March 1-2 World Cup in Inzell, Germany.

The 2002-2003 U.S. Allround Champions were determined by the top U.S. finishers at the North America/Oceania Regional Qualifier held in Salt Lake City in January.
Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) left no doubt that he would be the top American by winning the overall competition between the U.S. and Canada.  He placed first in the 5000, second in the 1500, third in the 500 and fourth in the 10,000 on his way to the title. Davis also won the 1500- and 10,000-meter competitions at the U.S. National Championships.

Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) won the women’s U.S. allround crown at the Regional Qualifier, placing fourth overall after third-place finishes in both the 3000 and 5000.

In the junior ranks, the U.S. earned three medals at the World Junior Championships in Japan.  Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) won the men’s 500-meters on the first day of competition, and the last day of races saw Heidi Stangl (Andover, Minn.) place second in the ladies’ 3000 and Maria Lamb (River Falls, Wis.) earn the bronze medal in the ladies’ overall standings.

Fredricks won the men’s U.S. Junior Championships in January along with ladies champion Elli Ochowicz (Waukesha, Wis.).  The duo also topped their respective junior sprint standings at the U.S. National Championships in December.

Other winners from the U.S. National Championships included Becky Sundstrom (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) who won both ladies’ 500-meter races on her way to topping the senior sprint standings, Kristine Holzer (Boise, Idaho) who won both the ladies’ 3000- and 5000-meter races, and KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) who captured the men’s 5000-meter title.

In short track competition, Olympic gold and silver medalist Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.) won his second career World Cup title in February.  He earned
196 points on the season, out of a possible 200, edging out Korea’s Hyun-Soo Ahn who finished second in the standings with 194 points.  Ohno won his first
World Cup title during the 2000-2001 season.  All told, Ohno had a hand in 20 of the 21 short track medals won by the U.S. during the season.  He won 18 individual medals (10 gold, six silver and two bronze) and two relay medals (one silver and one bronze).  Ohno also won the overall titles at the World Cup events in St. Petersburg, Russia (Nov. 29-Dec. 1) and Bormio, Italy (Dec. 6-8).  He teamed with Rusty Smith (Sunset Beach, Calif.), Derek Gray (Norton Shores, Mich.) and Alex Izykowski (Bay City, Mich.) to win a
silver medal in the men’s 5000-meter relay at the World Cup in Salt Lake City (Feb. 7-9), and also won a relay bronze in the final World Cup event in Quebec (Feb. 14-16) by teaming up with Smith, Gray and Misi Toth (St. Louis, Mo.).

Gray, Toth and J.P. Kepka (St. Louis, Mo.) captured the silver medal in the men’s 2000-meter relay at the World Junior Championships in Budapest, January 10-12.

In national competition, Ohno claimed his fifth U.S. National Championship in March in Bay City, Mich., along with ladies champion Caroline Hallisey (Natick, Mass.) who won her first national crown.

The U.S. Junior National Championships held in Cleveland in December saw Gray and Maria Garcia (Carson, Calif.) take home the men’s and ladies’ titles, respectively.

• Cheek Earns Silver Medal at World Cup INZELL, Germany, March 1, 2003 - Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) earned a silver medal in the sprint World Cup in Inzell, Germany, on Saturday.   Cheek, the Olympic bronze medalist in the 1000-meters, skated a time of 35.63 seconds to rank second in today's 500-meter competition.

Canadian Jeremy Wotherspoon, who skated a time of 35.42, won the event. Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.), who earned a bronze in the 500-meters at the Olympic Winter Games, skated a time of 36.00 to finish in eighth place and give the United States a pair of skaters in the top 10.

Cheek and Carpenter also placed in the top 10 in the 1000-meter competition on Saturday. Cheek finished fourth in a time of 1 minute 10.96 seconds, while Carpenter placed ninth in 1:11.89. Gerard van Velde of the Netherlands won the 1000-meters in 1:10.60.

"I was very happy to win my first silver medal in a 500-meter event," said Cheek. "I look forward to getting stronger over the next two weekends."

Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.), a three-time Olympic medalist, was the top American female, placing fifth in the 1000-meters. Witty skated a time of 1:18.88.
Germany's Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, who finished with a time of 1:18.22, won the race.

Witty was joined by U.S. teammates Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.), Becky Sundstrom (Glen Ellyn, Ill) and Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) in the top 10 of the 1000-meters. Rodriguez (1:18.94) was sixth, Sundstrom (1:19.11) was eighth, and Sannes (1:20.36) placed 10th.

Witty was also the top American in the 500-meters, finishing 15th with a time of 39.87. Garbrecht-Enfeldt skated a time of 38.55 to pick up her second gold of the day.

Tomorrow concludes the two-day competition.

Saturday's Results

Ladies' Division A 500-meters - 1, Monique
Garbrecht-Enfeldt, Germany, 38.55 seconds. 2, Catriona
Lemay Doan, Canada, 38.83. 3, Manli Wang, China,
38.96. Americans: 15, Chris Witty, West Allis, Wis.,
39.87. 16, Becky Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 39.91.
17, Amy Sannes, St. Paul, Minn., 40.15. 20, Elli
Ochowicz, Waukesha, Wis., 40.43.

Ladies' Division B 500-meters - 1, Anni Friesinger,
Germany, 39.84. 2, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla.,
39.94. 3, Marieke Wijsman, Netherlands, 40.24.

Ladies' Division A 1000-meters - 1, Garbrecht-Enfeldt,
1 minute 18.22 seconds. 2, Friesinger, 1:18.41. 3,
Lemay Doan, 1:18.81. Americans: 5, Witty, 1:18.88. 6,
Rodriguez, 1:18.94. 8, Sundstrom, 1:19.11. 10, Sannes,
1:20.36.

Ladies' Division B 1000-meters - 1, Shannon Rempel,
Canada, 1:19.88. 2, Galina Likhachova, Russia,
1:20.78. 3, Frouke Oonk, Netherlands, 1:20.90.

Men's Division A 500-meters - 1, Jeremy Wotherspoon,
Canada, 35.42. 2, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 35.63.
3, Erben Wennemars, Netherlands, 35.80. Other
Americans: 8, Kip Carpenter, Brookfield, Wis., 36.00.
20, Nick Pearson, Vernon, Wis., 37.50.

Men's Division B 500-meters - 1, Alexander Oltrop,
Netherlands, 36.63. 2, Michael Kunzel, Germany, 36.66.
3, Alexsandr Kibalko, Russia, 36.67. Americans: 11,
Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 37.08. 12(t),
Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 37.22.

Men's Division A 1000-meters - 1, Gerard van Velde,
Netherlands, 1:10.60. 2, Jan Bos, Netherlands,
1:10.62. 3, Wotherspoon, 1:10.84. Americans: 4, Cheek,
1:10.96. 9, Carpenter, 1:11.89. 11, Callis, 1:12.04.
12, Parra, 1:12.07. 16, Pearson, 1:12.68.

Men's Division B 1000-meters - 1, Mike Ireland,
Canada, 1:11.54. 2, Joon Moon, Korea, 1:11.78. 3,
Kibalko, 1:12.08.
 

• U.S. Long Track Team Earns Three Top 10 Finishes at World Allround Championships

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

GOTEBORG, Sweden, February 9, 2003 – The United States ended the World Allround Championships on Sunday with three skaters in the top 10 of the overall classification.  Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) was the top U.S. finisher, placing fifth overall with 173.817 points.  She was joined in the top 10 by teammate Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) who finished eighth after a pair of fourth-place finishes in the 3000- and 5000-meters.  On the men’s side, K.C. Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) led the U.S. with an eighth-place finish in the overall standings.

Rodriguez placed fifth in Sunday’s 1500-meters and 11th in the 5000-meters, while Raney was eighth in the 1500-meters.  Japan’s Maki Tabata won the 1500 in 2 minutes, 04.71 seconds, while Canada’s Clara Hughes captured the 5000-meters in 7:25.88.

“My 1500 was not what I needed today,” Rodriguez said.  “But my 5,000 was not too bad for me, especially considering the way the year has been going.  I’m already looking forward to coming back next year and doing better.”

Raney was apprehensive entering Sunday’s racing.  “After my 500 yesterday, I didn’t think I even wanted to skate this weekend, but now I’m glad I did,” said Raney.  “I got tired in the 5,000 pretty early, but I was able to keep my lap times down when I wanted them.”

The U.S. men placed two skaters in the top 10 of the 1500-meters, with Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) finishing sixth in 1:53.72 and Derek Parra (San
Bernardino, Calif.) finishing ninth in 1:54.13. Russia’s Yevgeny Lalenkov won the 1500 in 1:51.70.

Boutiette was the only American to qualify for the 10,000-meters where he placed ninth in a time of 14:31.18.  Gianni Romme of the Netherlands was first in 14:05.04.

The Netherlands secured the top four spots in the men’s overall classification with Romme in first, Rintje Ritsma in second, Ids Postma in third and Mark Tuitert in fourth.  The Americans placed Boutiette in eighth place, followed by Parra in 12th, Davis in 16th and Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) in 19th.

Sunday’s Results

Men’s 1500-meters: 1, Yevgeny Lalenkov, Russia, 1 minute 51.70 seconds.  2, Mark Tuitert, Netherlands, 1:51.74.  3, Gianni Romme, Netherlands, 1:52.07.
Americans: 6, Shani Davis, Chicago, Ill., 1:53.72.  9,  Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 1:54.13.  12, K.C. Boutiette, Tacoma, Wash., 1:54.51.  17, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 1:55.32.

Men’s 10,000-meters: 1, Romme, 14:05.04.  2, Rintje Ritsma, Netherlands, 14:11.32.  3, Eskil Evrik, Norway, 14:13.14.  Americans: 9, Boutiette,  14:31.18.

Men’s Final Overall Classification: 1, Romme, 158.105 points.  2, Ritsma, 158.889.  3, Ids Postma, Netherlands, 159.013.  Americans: 8, Boutiette,
161.085.  12, Parra, 117.643.  16, Davis, 118.080.  19, Callis, 119.178.

Ladies’ 1500-meters: 1, Maki Tabata, Japan, 2:04.71.  2, Claudia Pechstein, Germany, 2:04.99.  3, Cindy Klassen, Canada, 2:05.10.  Americans: 5, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 2:05.79.  8, Catherine Raney, Elm Grove, Wis., 2:06.98.

Ladies’ 5000-meters: 1, Clara Hughes, Canada, 7:25.88.  2, Pechstein, 7:29.50.  3, Klassen, 7:31.39. Americans: 4, Raney, 7:34.00.  11, Rodriguez, 7:49.79.

Ladies’ Final Overall Classification: 1, Klassen, 170.545.  2, Pechstein, 171.144.  3, Daniela Anschutz, Germany, 173.633. Americans: 5, Rodriguez, 173.817.  8, Raney, 174.381.
###

• Jennifer Rodriguez Wins 500-Meters at World Allround Championships in Sweden

GOTEBORG, Sweden, February 8, 2003 – Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) got the U.S. off to a strong start at the World Allround Championships on Saturday in Sweden.  The two-time Olympic bronze medalist won the 500-meter race, the first of four events over the two-day competition.  The win, combined with her 12th-place finish in today’s 3000-meters, puts Rodriguez in third place in the overall classification heading into Sunday’s final day.

“I had a really good warm-up and it showed in my 500,” said a pleased Rodriguez.  “My opener was the best of the season and the lap just felt really good.  I was also happy with my 3,000 and I’m very glad to be sitting in third overall.”

U.S. Head Coach Tom Cushman was also pleased with Rodriguez’ performance.  “Jen put together two very good races today for herself,” said Cushman.  “She looked about the best she has all season long.”

Two-time Olympian Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) placed fourth in the ladies’ 3000-meters and stands in 11th place overall.

“Catherine skated a very smart and aggressive 3,000 paired against the world record holder (Germany’s Claudia Pechstein),” said Cushman.

Raney was equally pleased with her performance.  “I was very happy with my 3,000,” she said.  “It’s good to know I’m right up with the very best girls in the world.”

Pechstein captured the 3000-meters in a time of 4 minutes 19.99 seconds, and stands second in the overall standings behind Canada’s Cindy Klassen.

In the men’s competition, Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) was the top U.S. finisher in the 500-meters with a fourth-place finish, while K.C. Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) had the best finish in the 5000-meters, placing 10th.  Boutiette stands in seventh place in the overall standings, followed by Parra in 10th, Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) in 16th, and Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) in 18th.

The Netherlands’ Ids Postma won the 500-meters and his countryman Gianni Romme captured the 5000-meters.  Postma is first in the overall standings after two events, The World Allround Championships conclude on Sunday with the ladies’ 1500- and 5000-meters, while the men
skate the 1500- and 10,000-meters.  The world champions will be determined from the best combined point total from the four distances skated over the two days.

Saturday’s Results

Men’s 500-meters: 1, Ids Postma, Netherlands, 36.89 seconds.  2, Yevgeny Lalenkov, Russia, 37.05.  3, Kevin Marshall, Canada, 37.18.  Americans: 4(t), Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 37.35.  7(t), Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 37.56.  9, K.C. Boutiette, Tacoma, Wash., 37.58.  12, Shani Davis, Chicago, Ill., 37.69.

Men’s 5000-meters: 1, Gianni Romme, Netherlands, 6 minutes 42.67 seconds.  2, Rintje Ritsma, Netherlands, 6:48.07.  3, Eskil Ervik, Norway, 6:52.94.  Americans: 10, Boutiette,  6:57.76.  16, Parra, 7:02.50.  18, Davis, 7:04.84.  22, Callis, 7:11.78.

Men’s Overall Classification (after 2 events): 1, Postma, 78.227 points.  2, Ritsma, 78.477.  3, Romme, 78.497.  Americans: 7, Boutiette, 79.356.  10, Parra, 79.600.  16, Davis, 80.174.  18, Callis, 80.738.

Ladies’ 500-meters: 1, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 40.01.  2, Cindy Klassen, Canada, 40.16.  3, Maki Tabata, Japan, 40.95.  Other Americans: 22,
Catherine Raney, Elm Grove, Wis., 42.99.

Ladies’ 3000-meters: 1, Claudia Pechstein, Germany, 4:19.99.  2, Klassen, 4:21.28.  3, Clara Hughes, Canada, 4:21.38. Americans: 4, Raney, 4:21.99.  12,
Rodriguez, 4:29.39.

Ladies’ Overall Classification (after 2 events): 1, Klassen, 83.706.  2, Pechstein, 84.531.  3, Rodriguez, 84.908.  Other Americans: 11, Raney, 86.655.

###

• SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 -WORLD SPRINT SPEED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS -2:00-3:00 P.M.

ABC Sports presents the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships, where six 2002 Olympians will be competing for the U.S., including Kip Carpenter, Joey Cheek, Jennifer Rodriguez and Chris Witty -- the world-record holder in the 1000m. Also competing is Canada's Jeremy Wotherspoon, who is seeking his fourth sprint championship in five years, and Catriona LeMay Doan, the 500m world record holder. Germany's Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, a silver medalist in the 2002 Olympic Games, is seeking her fourth world sprint championship. Tim Brant and Bonnie Blair report from Calgary, Alberta.
 
• Joey Cheek Wins 1000-meters, Jennifer Rodriguez 3rd at Final Day of World Sprint Championships

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada, Jan. 19, 2003 – Joey Cheek (Greensboro. N.C.) won Sunday’s 1000-meter race at the World Sprint Speed Skating Championships en route to a fourth-place finish in the overall classification. On the ladies side, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) won her second medal of the event, placing third in the 1000-meters, as she finished fifth in the final standings.

Cheek’s 1000-meter time of 1 minute 07.95 seconds was 0.03 ahead of second-place Erben Wennemars of the Netherlands. Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) placed ninth in 1:09.00, Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) was 12th in 1:09.42, and Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) finished 13th in 1:09.52.

Earlier in the day, Cheek and Carpenter earned top-10 finishes in the 500-meter race with Cheek (34.87 seconds) placing fourth and Carpenter (35.17) tying for ninth. Callis skated a personal-best time of 35.71 to finish 18th. His previous best was 36.05 set on December 28. Pearson placed 23rd with a time of 35.85.

Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada won the 500-meters with a time of 34.49.

Rodriguez followed up Saturday’s second-place finish in the 1000-meters with a third-place showing on Sunday. Her time of 1:14.97 shaved 0.08 off Saturday’s time. Rodriguez’ U.S. teammates Becky Sundstrom (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) and Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) also placed in the top 10. Sundstrom turned in a time of 1:15.67 to place sixth, and Witty finished eighth in 1:15.90.

Germany’s Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt won the 1000-meter race in 1:14.54.

In the ladies 500-meter race, Sundstrom and Witty tied for 14th with an identical time of 38.76. Rodriguez was close behind in 16th place with a time of 38.78.

Garbrecht-Enfeldt made it a clean sweep of the weekend’s events by winning the 500-meters in 37.75, helping her better her own event record for overall points with a total of 150.225. Her previous record was 151.605. Rodriguez (152.310) was the top American in the overall standings in fifth place, followed by Sundstrom (153.505) in 12th and Witty (153.945) in 13th.

Cheek earned fourth-place in the men’s overall standings with 138.230 points. Carpenter (139.415) finished eighth, Pearson (141.285) was 15th and Callis (141.295) was 16th. Wotherspoon placed first overall with a world-record point total of 137.230, improving on his own previous record of 137.285.

Sunday's Results

Ladies' 500-meters-1, Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, Germany, 37.75 seconds. 2, Manli Wang, China, 37.96. 3, Shihomi Shinya, Japan, 38.05. 4, Jenny Wolf, Germany, 38.06. 5, Sayuri Osuga, Japan, 38.10. 6, Catriona LeMay Doan, Canada, 38.13. Americans: 14(tied), Becky Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 38.76. 14(tied), Chris Witty, West Allis, Wis., 38.76. 16, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 38.78.

Ladies' 1000-meters-1, Garbrecht-Enfeldt, 1 minute 14.54 seconds. 2, Cindy Klassen, Canada, 1:14.71. 3, Rodriguez, 1:14.97. 4, Anzhelika Kotyuga, Belarus, 1:15.55. 5, Marianne Timmer, Netherlands, 1:15.57. 6, Sundstrom, 1:15.67. Other American: 8, Witty, 1:15.90.

Ladies' Samalog Final Standings-1, Garbrecht-Enfeldt, 150.225 points. 2, Klassen, 151.925. 3, Shinya, 151.980. 4, Wang, 151.985. 5, Rodriguez, 152.310. 6, Kotyuga, 152.490. Other Americans: 12, Sundstrom, 153.505. 13, Witty, 153.945.

Men's 500-meters-1, Jeremy Wotherspoon, Canada, 34.49. 2, Gerard van Velde, Netherlands, 34.61. 3, Hiroyasu Shimizu, Japan, 34.67. 4, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 34.87. 5, Erben Wennemars, Netherlands, 34.96. 6, Mike Ireland, Canada, 34.99. Other Americans: 9(tied), Kip Carpenter, Brookfield, Wis., 35.17. 18, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 35.71. 23, Nick Pearson, Vernon, Wis., 35.85.

Men's 1000-meters-1, Cheek, 1:07.95. 2, Wennemars, 1:07.98. 3, Wotherspoon, 1:08.25. 4, van Velde, 1:08.43. 5, Beorn Nijenhuis, Netherlands, 1:08.53. 6, Kyou Hyuk Lee, Korea, 1:08.76. Other Americans: 9, Carpenter, 1:09.00. 12, Callis, 1:09.42. 13, Pearson, 1:09.52.

Men's Samalog Final Standings-1, Wotherspoon, 137.230. 2, van Velde, 137.830. 3, Wennemars, 138.150. 4, Cheek, 138.230. 5, Shimizu, 138.365. 6, Lee, 139.085. Other Americans: 8, Carpenter, 139.415. 15, Pearson, 141.285. 16, Callis, 141.295.

• FIRST ROUND OF FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE AAU JAMES E. SULLIVAN MEMORIAL AWARD

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

List Includes Olympic Medal Winners, NCAA Champions, and Two High School Athletes

ORLANDO, FL. (January 13, 2003) - The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) today announced the names of the top finalists for the 73rd Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, which recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation. The first round finalists are: Nick Collison (Men's Basketball); Natalie Coughlin (Swimming); Sarah Hughes (Skating); LeBron James (Men's Basketball); George Kotaka (Karate); Stacey Nuveman (Softball); Nicole Ohlde (Women's Basketball); Apolo Anton Ohno (Speedskating); Derek Parra (Speedskating); Cael Sanderson (Wrestling); and Chris Waddell (Paralympic Alpine Skiing and Track and Field).

The AAU Sullivan Award recognizes athletes who have achieved athletic excellence, exhibit leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the AAU, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan.

A 10-member AAU Sullivan Committee selected the 11 finalists from an initial group of 50 nominations. Ballots to select the top five and the 2002 winner were mailed today to an 800-member voting body consisting of AAU Board of Directors, United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors, Select Media, and 2001 AAU Sullivan Award Event Attendees. The top five finalists and the National recipient will be formally recognized and announced March 18th, 2003 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.

"This year's selection of award finalists represents a diverse group of athletes participating in both individual and team sports," said AAU President Bobby Dodd. "The common thread that links our finalists is that they are not only first-class athletes, but first-class individuals as well. We hope that they will continue to serve as positive role models for the youth of America."

Considered the "Oscar" of sports awards, the AAU James E. Sullivan Award has been presented to prominent athletes of our time including last year's recipient Michelle Kwan. Others include: Peyton Manning (1997), William "Bill" Bradley (1965), Dan Jansen (1994), Janet Evans (1989), Jim Abbott (1987), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986), Greg Louganis (1984), and the late Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988).

"For the past 73 years, the Sullivan Award has recognized athletes that epitomize sportsmanship and integrity," noted AAU president Bobby Dodd. "We at the AAU are committed to continuing this time-honored tradition, and even helping it to grow in prominence."

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs for all ages. Our philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by nearly 500,000 participants and over 50,000 volunteers. Divided into 57 associations, the AAU sanctions more than 34 sports programs, 250 national championships, and over 10,000 local events across the United States annually.

For more information, contact: Melissa Wilson of AAU, 407.828.5636 melissa@aausports.org
 

• Jennifer Rodriguez Wins Gold in 1,000-Meter World Cup Race; Chris Witty and Joey Cheek Earn Bronze Medals

KEARNS, Utah, January 11, 2003 – In her first 1,000-meter competition of the 2002-2003 World Cup season, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.), the reigning Olympic bronze medalist at that distance, turned in a golden performance. Rodriguez topped a field of 20 skaters on Saturday with a time of 1:14.48 to win the fifth leg of the Essent ISU Speed Skating Spring World Cup at the Utah Olympic Oval. The victory snapped a string of four straight wins by Germany’s Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt who finished second in a time of 1:14.54. Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) reached the podium in her fourth straight World Cup 1,000-meter race, winning the bronze with a time of 1:14.66. Also in that race, Elli Ochowicz (Menlo Park, Calif.) shattered her own junior national record with a time of 1:16.44 to finish 11th. Her previous junior record was 1:17.87.

"I’m happy with the race," said Rodriguez. "Because I didn’t go to the Asian World Cups, I had no idea how well I'd do. Coach Tom Cushman just told me to go out and skate two good laps."

Rodriguez was also at a disadvantage by having to skate in the first of 10 pairs of skaters, but her time survived all the challengers. "You just have to go out and skate your own race and hope it holds up," said Rodriguez of the early pairing.

Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) also reached the podium, earning a bronze medal in the men’s Division A 1,000-meter race with a time of 1:08.20. Canada’s Jeremy Wotherspoon won the race in a time of 1:07.89.

Wotherspoon also won the men’s Division A 500-meter race with a Canadian national record time of 34.41 seconds. Japan’s Joji Kato set a world junior record of 34.88 to place second. Cheek was the top U.S. finisher in seventh place (35.12), followed by Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) in eighth (35.22) and Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) in 11th with a personal-best time of 35.46.

The ladies Division A 500-meter race was won by Garbrecht-Enfeldt with a time of 37.50. Witty was the top American, tying for the 13th spot in 38.66.

The ladies Division B 500-meters saw an American sweep with Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.), Rodriguez and Ochowicz finishing one-two-three. Sannes also placed second in the ladies Division B 1,000-meter race.

Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) set a personal best in the men’s Division B 1,000-meters, finishing second with a time of 1:08.87. His previous best was 1:09.04.

Action resumes on Sunday with the sixth legs of the 500- and 1,000-meter World Cup season.

Saturday's Results

Ladies' Division A 500-meters - 1, Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, GER, 37.50 seconds. 2, Catriona LeMay Doan, CAN, 37.78. 3, Sayuri Osuga, JPN, 37.87. Americans: 13t, Chris Witty, West Allis, Wis., 38.66. 16, Becky Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 38.95.

Ladies' Division B 500-meters – 1, Amy Sannes, St. Paul, Minn., 38.83. 2, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 38.86. 3, Elli Ochowicz, Menlo Park, Calif., 39.23.

Ladies' Division A 1000-meters – 1, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 1 minute 14.48 seconds. 2, Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, GER, 1:14.54. 3, Chris Witty, West Allis, Wis., 1:14.66 Other Americans: 7, Becky Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 1:16.07. 11, Elli Ochowicz, Menlo Park, Calif., 1:16.44.

Ladies' Division B 1000-meters -1, Maki Tabata, JPN, 1:16.04. 2, Amy Sannes, St. Paul, Minn., 1:16.13. 3, Anke Hartmann, GER, 1:17.28.

Men's Division A 500-meters - 1, Jeremy Wotherspoon, CAN, 34.41. 2, Joji Kato, JPN, 34.88. 3, Erben Wennemars, NED, 35.03. Americans: 7, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 35.12. 8, Kip Carpenter, Brookfield, Wis., 35.22. 20, Nick Pearson, Vernon, Wis., 35.46.

Men's Division B 500-meters - 1, Eric Brisson, CAN, 35.45. 2, Jacques de Koning, NED, 35.66. 3, Brock Miron, CAN, 35.69. Americans: 8, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 36.15. 9, Tucker Fredricks, Janesville, Wis., 36.20.

Men's Division A 1000-meters - 1, Jeremy Wotherspoon, CAN, 1:07.89. 2, Erben Wennemars, NED, 1:08.10. 3, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 1:08.20. Other Americans: 5, Nick Pearson, Vernon, Wis., 1:08.97. 7, Kip Carpenter, Brookfield, Wis., 1:09.62.

Men's Division B 1000-meters - 1, Beorn Nijenhuis, NED, 1:08.83. 2, Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 1:08.87. 3, Jacques de Koning, NED, 1:09.45. Other Americans: 4, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 1:09.52
 

• Rodriguez Wins Silver, Witty Earns Bronze In World Cup

KEARNS, Utah, January 12, 2003 – Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) won the silver medal and teammate Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) took the bronze in running her podium appearances to five straight World Cup 1,000-meter races on Sunday at the Essent ISU Speed Skating Sprint World Cup held at the Utah Olympic Oval. A total of 114 records were set during the three-day competition.

Rodriguez, who won Saturday’s 1,000-meter World Cup race, was clocked in 1:14.55 to finish behind World Cup standings leader Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt of Germany who placed first in 1:14.17 and set a world points record in the process. Witty was timed in 1:15.11 to earn the bronze, while Becky Sundstrom (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) skated a personal best time of 1:15.58 to place fourth. Elli Ochowicz (Menlo Park, Calif.) broke her own junior national record for the second straight day with a time of 1:16.41 and finished in ninth place. Ochowicz also achieved a junior points record with her performance.

"It was nice to have four USA skaters in the top 10," said Rodriguez. "I skated pretty well but got a little more tired today than I did yesterday. You want to do well here, but everyone is focusing on next weekend (the World Sprint Championships in Calgary)."

Today's results gives Witty 406 points in the World Cup standings to rank second behind Garbrecht-Enfeldt, who leads with 580 points. Sundstrom is fifth in the rankings with 240 points and Rodriguez enters the standings in 12th place with 180 points by virtue of her first- and second-place finishes this weekend.

In the men’s Division A 1,000-meter race, the Netherlands’ Erben Wennemars clocked the second-fastest time ever at that distance with a time of 1:07.33 to win the gold medal. The world record at 1,000 meters is 1:07.18. Canada’s Jeremy Wotherspoon placed second in 1:08.29 and also set a world points record. The top American was Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) in fourth place with a time of 1:08.36, followed by Derek Parra (San Bernardino, Calif.) in eighth (1:08.96) and Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) who tied for 10th place (1:09.15).

Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.), who placed 13th on Sunday, is the top ranked American in the men's 1000-meters standings. He is currently fifth with 306 points. Teammates Cheek (272) and Carpenter (207) are ranked sixth and eighth, respectively.

Wennemars is currently ranked number one through seven races with 510 points.

Cheek was the top American in the men's Division A 500-meters with a fourth-place finish in a time of 34.93. Carpenter was ninth with a time of 35.24 while Pearson was 15th with a time of 35.81. Wotherspoon finished first with a time of 34.77.

In the ladies' Division A 500-meters, Witty was the top American, finishing 13th with a time of 38.62. Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) was 18th in 38.87, while Sundstrom placed 19th with a time of 38.99.

Garbrecht-Enfeldt won the race with a time of 37.45 seconds.

In men’s Division B 500-meter action, Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) set an American junior national record with a time of 36.09 in placing fifth.

The event produced 86 personal records, 15 junior national records, eight national records, three world junior records, two world points records and two unofficial world records for the inaugural 100-meter races held on Friday.

Competition continues at the World Sprint Championship next weekend (Jan. 18-19) in Calgary.

Sunday's Results

Complete Results: http://www.scg-nl.nl/events/speedskating/2002-2003/worldcup/salt%20lake/

Ladies' Division A 500-meters-1, Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, Germany, 37.45 seconds. 2, Manli Wang, China, 37.85. 3, Tomomi Okazaki, Japan, 37.92. Americans: 13, Chris Witty, West Allis, Wis., 38.62. 18, Amy Sannes, St. Paul, Minn., 38.87. 19, Becky Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 38.99.

Ladies' Division B 500-meters-1, Elli Ochowicz, Menlo Park, Calif., 39.16. 2, Hui Ren, China, 39.19. 3, Svetlana Radkevich, Belarus, 39.43. Other American: 8, Annie Driscoll, Roseville, Minn., 40.11.

Ladies' Division A 1000-meters-1, Garbrecht-Enfeldt, 1 minute 14.17 seconds. 2, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, Fla., 1:14.55. 3, Witty, 1:15.11. Other Americans: 4, Sundstrom, 1:15.58. 9, Ochowicz, 1:16.41.

Ladies' Division B 1000-meters-1, Sannes, 1:16.44. 2, Krisztina Egyed, HUN, 1:17.09. 3, Ren, 1:17.75.

Men's Division A 500-meters-1, Jeremy Wotherspoon, Canada, 34.77. 2, Gerard van Velde, Netherlands, 34.85. 3, Erben Wennemars, Netherlands, 34.90. Americans: 4, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 34.93. 9, Kip Carpenter, Brookfield, Wis., 35.24. 15, Nick Pearson, Vernon, Wis., 35.81.

Men's Division B 500-meters-1, Tadashi Obara, Japan, 35.58. 2, Beorn Nijenhuis, Netherlands, 35.67. 3, Brock Miron, Canada, 35.77. Americans: 5, Tucker Fredricks, Janesville, Wis., 36.09. 8, Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 36.26.

Men's Division A 1000-meters-1, Wennemars, 1:07.33. 2, Wotherspoon, 1:08.29. 3, van Velde, 1:08.34. Americans: 4, Cheek, 1:08.36. 8, Parra, 1:08.96. 10 (tied), Carpenter, 1:09.15. 13, Pearson, 1:09.72.

Men's Division B 1000-meters-1, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 1:08.83. 2, Masaaki Kobayashi, Japan, 1:10.47. 3, Pasi Koskela, Finland, 1:10.51.
 

• Cheek and Sundstrom Claim U.S. Sprint Championships

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

KEARNS, Utah, December 30, 2002-Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) and Becky Sundstrom (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) claimed the men's and ladies' U.S. Sprint titles, respectively, Monday afternoon at the Utah Olympic Oval.

Cheek won today's men's 1000-meters with a time of 1 minute 8.41 seconds.  The win gave Cheek a perfect record in the four sprint events at U.S. Championships. On Friday, Cheek swept the men's 500- and 1000-meters while on Saturday he captured the 1000-meters.

Cheek finished first with a four-race point total of 138.695.  Nick Pearson (Vernon, Wis.) finished second with 140.585 points while Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) was third with 141.525.

The trio qualified for the World Sprint Championships, which will take place Jan. 18-19 in Calgary.

Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.)  was already prequalified for the World Sprints based on his current World Cup standings.

Sundstrom finished second in today's ladies' 1000-meters with a time of 1:16.09, while Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami) won the race with a time of 1:15.71.

Sundstrom won Friday and Saturday's 500-meters competitions en route to her U.S. Sprint title. Sundstrom finished with 153.180 points while Rodriguez finished second with 153.295. Amy Sannes (St. Paul, Minn.) was third with 155.540 points.

Sundstrom and Rodriguez have qualified for the World Sprint Championships while Sannes will have a skate off with Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) for the third and final position.

Witty was scratched from the competition on Friday due to the flu.  Witty is eligible to skate off against the third-place qualifier at the Salt Lake World Cup to be held Jan. 10-12. The final start position will be determined by each skaters' combined point total from her best 500- and 1000-meter competition.  Witty is eligible to a skate off due to recording a top-eight finish at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Witty won the gold medal in the 1000-meters.

The U.S. Junior Men's Sprint Championship was won by Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.). Tyler Goff (Madison, Wis.) and Eric Cepuran (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) finished second and third, respectively.

The ladies' junior sprint champion was Elli Ochowicz (Menlo Park, Calif.). Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. (Wheaton, Ill.) finished second while Sara Goff (Madison, Wis.) was third. Lori (Monk) Goff, Nancy Swider-Peltz, and Sheila (Young) Ochowicz, and Nancy Swider-Peltz, mothers of the junior ladies' winners, all competed on the 1976 Winter Olympic Team. Ochowicz won a gold medal in the 500-meters, a silver medal in the 1500-meters, and a bronze in the 1000-meters at the 1976 Olympic Winter Games.

In allround action, Kristine Holzer (Boise, Idaho) won the ladies' 3000-meters with a time of 4 minutes 12.31 seconds while KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) won the men's 5000-meters with a time of 6 minutes 34.45 seconds. Boutiette, a former star inline skater, edged out inline skater Chad Hedrick (Houston) for the win. Hedrick posted a time of 6:35.56.

Competition concludes tomorrow with the ladies' 5000-meters and the men's 10,000 meters. Action starts at 10 a.m.

Monday's Results

Ladies' 1000-meters-1, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, 1 minute 15.71 seconds. 2, Becky Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 1:16.09. 3, Amy Sannes, St. Paul, Minn., 1:16.70. 4, Elli Ochowicz, Menlo Park, Calif., 1:17.87. 5, Annie Driscoll, Roseville, Minn., 1:18.87. 6, Becky Lang, Waupaca, Wis., 1:21.69.  7, Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr., Wheaton, Ill., 1:21.74. 8, Becky Bradford, Apple Valley, Minn., 1:22.71. 9, Sara Goff, Madison, Wis., 1:23.30. 10, Sarah Parker, Roseville, Minn., 1:24.15.

Ladies' Final Senior Sprint Standings (four-race total)-1, Sundstrom, 153.180 points. 2, Rodriguez, 153.295. 3, Sannes, 155.540. 4, Ochowicz, 157.005. 5, Driscoll, 159.560. 6, Lang, 164.400. 7, Bradford, 165.690. 8, Swider-Peltz, Jr., 166.550. 9, Goff, 167.585. 10, Parker, 168.495.

Ladies' Final Junior Sprint Standings (four-race total)-1, Ochowicz, 157.005. 2, Swider-Peltz, Jr., 166.550. 3, Goff, 167.585. 4, Margaret Crowley, Winnetka, Ill., 169.020. 5, Ashlee Barnett, Lino Lakes, Minn., 173.735. 6, Erica Lanser, Elm Grove, Wis., 176.070. 7, April Medley, Mequon, Wis., 177.580.

Men's 1000-meters-1, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 1 minute 8.41 seconds. 2, Nick Pearson, Vernon, Wis., 1:08.57.  3, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 1:09.45. 4, Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 1:10.12. 5, Tim Hoffmann, Waukesha, Wis., 1:10.71. 6, Matthew Passarella, Fon du Lac, Wis., 1:11.55. 7, Lucas Mills, Washington, D.C., 1:12.37. 8, Tucker Fredricks, Janesville, Wis., 1:12.50. 9, Eric Krantz, Elgin, Ill., 1:12.82. 10, Tyler Goff, Madison, Wis., 1:13.15.

Men's Final Senior Sprint Standings (four-race total)-1, Cheek, 138.695. 2, Pearson, 140.585. 3, Callis, 141.525. 4, Parra, 144.635. 5, Fredricks, 144.900.  6, Hoffmann, 145.530. 6, Krantz, 145.590. 7, Matt Kooreman, Grand Rapids, Mich., 148.335. 8, Rusty Smith Sunset Beach, Calif., 148.455. 9, Ron Macky, Grafton, Wis., 150.200. 10, Goff, 150.790.

Men's Final Junior Sprint Standings (four-race total)-1, Fredricks, 144.900. 2, Goff, 150.790. 3, Eric Cepuran, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 153.100. 4, Tim Venne, Roseville, Minn., 154.250. 5, Paul Dyrud, Plymouth, Minn., 154.510. 6, Mike Blumel, Woodbury, Minn., 156.690.

Ladies' 3000-meters-1, Kristine Holzer, Boise, Idaho, 4:12.31. 2, Katie Krall, Colorado Springs, Colo., 4:16.35. 3, Eva Rodansky, Woodhaven, Mich., 4:17.11. 4, Maria Lamb, River Falls, Wis., 4:20.14. 5, Erin Porter, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 4:20.42. 6, Heidi Stangl, Andover, Minn., 4:21.12. 7, Julie Glass, Seattle, 4:22.00. 8, Shana Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 4:24.04. 9, Sarah Elliott, Oconomowoc, Wis., 4:25.48. 10, Swider-Peltz, Jr., 4:27.72. 11, Driscoll, 4:31.10.

Men's 5000-meters-1, KC Boutiette, Tacoma, Wash., 6:34.45. 2, Chad Hedrick, Houston, 6:35.56. 3, Callis, 6:36.95. 4, Shani Davis, Chicago, 6:37.41. 5, Clay Mull, Gastonia, N.C., 6:43.76. 6, Nate DiPalma, Albuquerque, N.M. 6:46.83. 7,Hoffmann, 6:51.23. 8, Matt Passarella, Fon du Lac, Wis., 7:01.20. 9, Danny Frederick, Anchorage, Alaska, 7:06.10. 10, Macky, 7:08.19.

• Four Skaters Claim Victories on Day Two of the U.S. Speedskating Championships

KEARNS, Utah, December 28, 2002-The second day of action at the U.S. Speedskating Long Track Championships produced four different event winners.

Joey Cheek (Greensboro, N.C.) won his third race in as many tries on Saturday. Cheek claimed the men's 500-meters with a time of 35.16 seconds. Yesterday, Cheek earned victories in the men's 500- and 1000-meters.

Today's men's and ladies' 500- and 1000-meters and yesterday's 500-meters times combined with Monday's 1000-meters will decide the U.S. Sprint champions.

In the ladies' 500-meters, Becky Sundstrom (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) duplicated yesterday's first-place finish with time of 38.59. Yesterday, Sundstrom placed second in the ladies' 1000-meters.

The men's 1500-meters was a closely contested race with the top three skaters finishing within .03 seconds of each other. Shani Davis (Chicago), who also is a member of the U.S. Short Track World Cup Team, captured the victory with a time of 1 minute 46.76 seconds. KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.) finished second with a time of 1:46.78 while Chris Callis (Sudlersville, Md.) finished third with a time of 1:46.79.

Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami) picked up her second victory of the event by posting a time of 1:55.80 seconds in the ladies' 1500-meters. Yesterday, Rodriguez earned a gold medal in the 1000-meters.

Action resumes on Monday at 10 a.m. MST at the Utah Olympic Oval with the ladies' and men's 1000-meter races, the ladies' 3000-meters, and the men's 5000-meters. Ticket prices are $4 for adults and $2 for children under 12 and seniors.

Saturday's Results

Ladies' 500-meters-1, Becky Sundstrom, Glen Ellyn, Ill., 38.59 seconds. 2, Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami, 38.67. 3, Amy Sannes, St. Paul, Minn., 39.48. 4, Elli Ochowicz, Waukesha, Wis., 39.52. 5, Annie Driscoll, Roseville, Minn., 40.21. 6, Eva Rodansky, Woodhaven, Mich., 40.33. 7, Sarah Elliott, Oconomowoc, Wis., 40.36. 8, Julie Glass, Seattle, 40.63. 9, Erin Porter, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 40.93. 10, Maria Lamb, River Falls, Wis., 41.15.

Men's 500-meters-1, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 35.16 seconds. 2, Nick Pearson, Vernon, Wis., 35.58. 3, Chris Callis, Sudlersville, Md., 36.05. 4, Shani Davis, Chicago, Ill., 36.19. 5, Tucker Fredricks, Janesville, Wis., 36.30. 6, K.C. Boutiette, Tacoma, Wash., 36.48. 7, Derek Parra, San Bernardino, Calif., 36.57. 8, Eric Krantz, Elgin, Ill., 36.63. 9, Tim Hoffmann, Waukesha, Wis., 36.85. 10, Brady Thompson, Franklin, Wis., 36.89.

Ladies' 1500-meters-1