BONT NEWS
US Men Qualify for Team Pursuit Championships - USA
Baselga di Pine, Italy

Date: 3 February 2005

BASELGA di PINE, Italy (Jan. 30, 2005) – The U.S. men’s team pursuit finished off the weekend’s competition at the Essent ISU World Cup with a silver medal on Sunday.

 

The U.S. team, consisting of Derek Parra (Orlando, Fla.), Chad Hedrick (Spring, Tex.) and KC Boutiette (Tacoma, Wash.), skated to a strong enough finish to qualify for the World Single Distance Championships that will be held in March in Inzell, Germany.  Team USA finished in 3:54.05 but Team Norway skated a bit faster for the gold medal in 3:52.53. Team Poland took home the bronze in 3:54.78.

 

According to Boutiette, the US men team pursuit skated a “good solid race.”

 

The U.S. women’s team pursuit qualified Saturday for the World Single Distance Championships in March as well.

 

After sitting out of the races on Saturday in order to be prepared for the World Championships next weekend, Hedrick skated in the 1500-meters only to be disqualified for crossing over to the other lane on the wrong side of the track.

 

On the ladies’ side, Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) was the top American finisher in the 3000-meters with a 10th place finish in 4:20.76.  Anni Friesinger (GER) won the gold medal in 4:11.56.

 

Tom Cushman, U.S. Speedskating’s national long track coach had the following to say about the weekend’s competition:

 

“Well, we had some rough spots this weekend - but we'll have it dialed in for the World Championships next weekend.”

 

The World Allround Championships will be held next weekend in Moscow, Russia.

 

RESULTS:

 (courtesy of www.isu.org. For more detailed information, please visit http://events.horses.nl/skating/2004-2005/worldcup/baselga/)

 

Ladies 3000-meters:

 

  1. A. Friesinger GER 4:11.56; 2. C. Pechstein GER 4:12.81; 3. D. Anschutz GER 4:15.53; 4. R. Groenewold NED 4:17.38; 4. C. Klassen CAN 4:17.38; 6. M. Kleinsman NED 4:18.82

Americans: 10. C. Raney 4:20.76; 17. M. Lamb 4:26.18

 

Division B Americans: 3. K. Holzer 4:24.00

 

Men’s 1500-meters:

  1. B. Nijenhuis NED 1:48.84; 2. E. Wetten NOR 1:49.07; 3. E. Wennemars NED 1:49.89; 4. I. Skobrev RUS 1:49.98; 5. E. Fabris ITA 1:50.20

Americans: 15. D. Parra 1:52.16; 19. C. Mull 1:54.80; 20. C. Hedrick DQ

 

Men’s Team Pursuit:

1. Norway 3:52.53; 2. USA 3:54.05; 3. Poland 3:54.78; 4. Canada 3:55.19; 5. Netherlands 3:55.70; 6. Germany 3:56.94
 
 
Melissa Scott
Director, Public and Media Relations
U.S. Speedskating
Blackberry: 440-610-1129
Office: 440-899-0128
www.usspeedskating.org
 
 

Questions/comments/critique of this article?  E-mail me. 

Check out the Bont Newsletter.