Date: 4 February 2005

BUDAPEST, Hungary (Feb. 4, 2005) – After staying away from the past two World Cups, Korea return to the rink this weekend at the Bosideng ISU World Cup 5 and the U.S. speedskaters are giving them a run for their money.

In the men’s 1500-meters, Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.) easily advanced to the finals where he won the silver medal in 2 minutes, 25.749 seconds. Korea’s Hyun-Soo Ahn took home the gold in 2:25.603 and Canada’s Charles Hamelin won the bronze medal in 2:26.039. Korea had three men in the finals.

“I am happy with my performance,” Ohno said. “However there are still many things that I need to work on.”

Rusty Smith (Long Beach, Calif.) advanced to the semi-finals in the 1500-meters where he finished sixth in his heat in 2:29.093. Also advancing to the semi-finals was Jordan Malone (Denton, Tex.) who barely missed a spot to advance to the finals with his third place finish in 2:20.161. This World Cup is Malone’s international debut on the short track Speedskating circuit.

Joining Ohno, Smith and Malone was Mike Kooreman (Grand Rapids, Mich.) for the men’s 5000-meters relay. The US team won their heat and qualified for the next quarterfinal round.

On the ladies’ side, Allison Baver (Sinking Spring, Penn.) was also the lone U.S. skater to advance to the finals in the 1500-meters. Baver finished seventh in 2:23.253. The Korean women swept the event with Sun-Yu Jin winning the gold medal in 2:21.706 followed by teammates Yun-Mi Kang (2:21.728) and Eun-Kyung Choi (2:21.771).

“I made a few mistakes in the final and was caught behind,” Baver said of her 1500-meters race. “I wasn't ready for the what happened in the race - with the Koreans attacking that early.”

Baver’s teammates Hyo-Jung Kim (Fullerton, Calif.) and Brigid Farrell (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) finished third and seventh in their semi-final heats, respectively.

Joined by Kristen Biondo (Broadview Heights, Oh.), Baver, Kim and Farrell advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s 3000-meters relay. In their semi-final heat, they will skate against China, Canada and France.

RESULTS:

Ladies’ 1500-meters:

Americans: 8. Hyo-Jung Kim; 18. Brigid Farrell

Men’s 1500-meters:

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