ALKMAAR, Netherlands (Feb. 13, 2005)-- Weather was better than expected Sunday at the
Junior Country Match in the Netherlands with a storm blowing through overnight and
leaving behind normal head winds of 100-150 meter versus the 350-400 meters the skaters
had to endure Saturday.
Sunday was another good day for Paul Dyrud, with a strong fourth place finish in the
1500-meters and top five overall. Tyler Goff also had a good day in the 1500-meters
with a 13th place finish. Micheal Blumel, skating through an illness, also skated well.
Patrick Meek continued to skate well for his second time ever racing outdoors.
According to U.S. Speedskating junior coach, Mike Witty, Margaret Crowley had a bit
of bad luck with the wind in her 1000-meters, “but that is Speedskating outdoors,”
Witty said. “Everyone has to deal with it; sometimes you catch a break from the
weather and other times you can be bit by it.” Crowley finished 20th in the 1000-meters
whereas teammate Ericka Hawke finished 19th.
The women’s team pursuit was a slight disappointment Witty said. That was primarily
because Hawke was fighting an illness and getting sicker by the minute. She was
“really digging deep to even finish her race,” Witty said. Joining Hawke in the
team pursuit was were Crowley and Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr.
“I think it is good for the skaters to do the team events,” Witty confirmed.
“The event is a good morale booster.”
On the men’s side of the team pursuit, Witty said the strategy was for Blumel
to skate the first 1-2 laps and pull off. “He has one of the better starts,
and could get the team going,” Witty said. “This way we could try and get him
some extra needed rest to help him get over his illness before next week when
he has to compete at the Worlds.”
“The men were flying and building a lead over the German team, when Goff's
skate broke, sending him to the ice,” Witty said. “With only two skaters
remaining, the team could not continue because three need to cross the line,
and Blumel was already out of the race.”
“It’s a bummer that this happened,” Witty admitted. “But I feel more confident
going into the Worlds with this team,- they really looked strong and in control
when Tyler fell. I think their time would have been very competitive with the top
teams, and I am excited to see what the team will do when Blumel has recovered,
and there are no skate malfunctions.”
Results:
Ladies’ 1000-meters:
1. Magot Boer NED 1:23.15
2. Tessa van Dijk NED 1:23.68
3. Annette Gerritsen NED 1:24.39
4. Shiho Ishizawa JPN 1:25.20
5. Justine l’Heureux CAN 1:26.43
6. Masako Hozumi JPN 1:27.23
7. Foske Tamar van der Wal NED 1:28.13
8. Ariane Dubiel GER 1:28.21
9. Franzika Petereit GER 1:28.43
10. Sanne Delfgou NED 1:28.69
11. Jorien Kranenborg NED 1:28.87
12. Karoline Zillmann GER 1:28.91
13. Marie-Pier Geravis-Moreau CAN 1:29.26
14. Kirsti Lay CAN 1:29.48
15. Sophie Nijman NED 1:29.73
16. Stephanie Beckert GER 1:29.93
17. Janneke Ensing NED 1:30.81
18. Shoko Fujimura JPN 1:30.93
19. Ericka Hawke USA 1:30.94
20. Margaret Crowley USA 1:31.32
21. Kelsey Duffield CAN 2:00.44(Fall)
Top 5 Ladies Overall
1. Tessa van Dijk NED 130.043
2. Margot Boer NED 130.265
3. Annette Gerritsen NED 132.121
4. Sisho Ishizawa JPN 133.016
5. Franziska Petereit GER 135.645
USA (15) Margaret Crowley 137.636 (20) Ericka Hawke 140.720
Men’s 1500-meters:
1. Denny Morrison CAN 1:57.62
2. Francois-Olivie Roberge CAN 1:57.80
3. Wouter Olde Heuvel NED 1:57.80
4. Paul Dyrud USA 1:58.75
5. Justin Warsylewicz CAN 1:59.11
6. Jacob van der Heide NED 1:59.78
7. Jan Smeekens NED 2:02.10
8. Nico Ihle GER 2:02.20
9. Shingo Haschibami JPN 2:02.43
10. Jan H. Boermans NED 2:02.88
11. Huub van der Wart NED 2:03.17
12. Michael Bergman GER 2:03.47
13. Tyler Goff USA 2:03.65
15. Hiroki Abe JPN 2:03.93
15. Arne Becker GER 2:04.18
16. Michael Blumel USA 2:04.34
17. Yota Konno JPN 2:04.42
18. Lucas Makowsky CAN 2:04.43
19. Guido Berends NED 2:04.58
20. Freddy Wennemars NED 2:05.61
21. Patrick Meek USA 2:08.55
22. Frank Steiner GER DNS
Top 5 Men Overall
1. Denny Morrison CAN 121.887
2. Justin Warsylewicz CAN 122.989
3. Jacob van der Heide NED 123.007
4. Wouter Olde Heuvel NED 123.101
5. Paul Dyrud USA 123.489
Other USA Finishes:
(14) Tyler Goff 126.739
(18) Michael Blumel 128.294
(21) Patrick Meek 130.136
Team Pursuit Ladies (6 Laps)
1. Germany 3:26.44
2. Netherlands 1 3:29.00
3. Canada 3:31.41
4. Japan 3:31.86
5. Netherlands 2 3:33.22
6. United States 3:34.89
Team Pursuit Men (8 Laps)
1. Japan 4:12.02
2. Canada 4:13.86
3. Netherlands 2 4:15.25
4. Netherlands 1 4:22.94
5. Germany 4:23.13
6. United States Fall/DQ
Country Match Team Rankings
1. Netherlands 1
2. Canada
3. Germany
4. Japan
5. United States