U.S. Short Track Speedskaters Vie For World Cups 5 and 6 Spots

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (Jan. 23) - The ADT American Cup II concluded Sunday with the selection of the five male and five female short track speedskaters who qualified to compete in the upcoming World Cup 5 and 6, which will be held in Budapest Hungary Feb 4-6, and Spissta Nova, Slovakia Feb 10-12.

In the ladies’ 1500-meters event Brigid Farrell (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) took the win in a time of 2:32.76, with Kristen Biondo (Broadview Heights, Ohio) finishing second in 2:33.22. Kimberly Derrick (Marquette, Mich.) finished third in 2:33.95.

Kira Fling (Winnetka, Ill.) won the ladies’ 500-meter event in 48.17, with Tina Koenig (North Ridgeville, Ohio) finishing second in 48.30, and Biondo finishing third in 48.81.

Farrell won the 1000-meters in 1:39.66, with Biondo, and Cherise Wilkens (Camillus, N.Y.) finishing second and third in times of 1:39.73, and 1:45.56, respectively.

Carly Wilson (Jefferson City, MO) claimed victory in the 3000-meters in 5:34.44, followed by Farrell in 5:34.64, and Biondo in a time of 5:35.76.

For the overall classification, Farrell led with 2775 points, followed by Biondo (2000), Fling (1476), Wilson (1425), and Wilkens (990).

Hyo-Jung Kim (Fullerton, Calif.) and Allison Baver (Sinking Spring, Penn.) pre-qualified for the competitions based on their results in World Cups 3 and 4. Farrell, Biondo, and Fling qualified the remaining positions for the team.

In the men’s 1500-meters Jordan Malone (Denton, Tex.) won the gold in a time of 2:25.86, with Rusty Smith (Long Beach, Calif.) finishing second in a time of 2:26.02, and J.P. Kepka (St. Louis, MO) finishing third in a time of 2:26.22.

Smith won the 500-meters event in a time of 43.69, followed by Mike Kooreman (Grand Rapids, Mich.), and Kepka in times of 43.92, and 43.94, respectively.

In the 1000-meters Smith took the gold in a time of 1:36.13, followed by Travis Jayner (Midland, Mich.) in a time of 1:36.47, and Kepka in 1:37.12.

In the 3000-meters, Smith won in a time of 5:34.37, with Kyle Carr (Shillington, Penn.) finishing second in a time of 5:34.70, and Kooreman finishing third 5:34.91.

In the overall classification, Smith took the title with 3600 pts, followed by Malone (1423), Kooreman (1350), Kepka (1325), and Carr (905).

Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.) pre-qulified his position on the World Cup 5 and 6 team based on his results from the 3rd and 4th World Cups. Joining him will be his teammates Smith, Malone, Kooreman, and Kepka.