HEERVENVEEN, Netherlands (Feb. 20, 2005) – The ISU World Cup concluded Sunday with a medal-less day for the U.S. speedskaters.

 

In the ladies’ 500-meters, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) finished 10^th in 38.85. The winning time was 38.18 by Anzhelika Kotyuga (BLR). Elli Ochowicz (Waukesha, Wis.) finished 19^th in 39.70.

 

No U.S. ladies skated in the Division A 5000-meters event, which was won by Cludia Pechstein (GER) in 6:56.79. In Division B, Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, Wis.) finished fourth in 7:16.29. Teammate Kristine Holzer (Boise, Ida.) finished 14^th in 7:33.09.

 

In the men’s 500-meters Joey Cheek (Greensboro, NC) was the top U.S. finisher with a seventh place finish in 35.48. Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, Wis.) finished 10^th in 35.61, followed by Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, Wis.) finishing in 11^th place in 35.79.  Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, Wis) finished 18^th in 36.23.

 

After a top-four sweep by the Dutchmen, Chad Hedrick (Spring, Tex.) finished 6^th in the men’s 1500-meters in 1:47.92. Derek Parra (Orlando, Fla.) was the next top U.S. male finisher with a ninth place finish in 1:48.67. Cheek finished 10^th in 1:48.74. Clay Mull (Gastonia, NC) finished 17^th in 1:50.67

 

In the men’s 100-meters, Fredricks finished sixth in a time of 12.53.

 

 

Results:

Ladies’ 500-meters:

1. A. Kotyuga BLR 38.18; 2. S. Yoshii JPN 38.44; 3. M. Wang CHN 38.45; 4. T. Okazaki JPN 38.57; 5. S. Osuga JPN 38.64; 6. B. Wang CHN 38.65

 

Americans: 10. J. Rodriguez 38.85; 19. E. Ochowicz 39.70

Division B Americans: 5. E. Rodansky 40.08; 8. A. Sannes 40.25

 

Ladies’ 5000-meters:

1. C. Pechstein GER 6:56.79; 2. G. Smit NED 7:02.38; 3. R. Groenewold NED 7:05.46; 4. M. Tabata JPN 7:15.49; 5. E. Ishino JPN 7:18.01; 6. M. Kleinsman NED 7:18.72

 

Division B Americans: 4. C. Raney 7:16.29; 14. K. Holzer 7:33.09

 

Ladies’ 100-meters:

1. J. Wolf GER 10.43; 2. S. Osuga JPN 10.46; 3. A. Xing CHN 10.47; 4. S. Shinya JPN 10.63; 5. S. Kaykan RUS 10.75; 6. K. Nurui JPN 10.99

 

Men’s 500-meters:

1. J. Wotherspoon CAN 34.96; 2. J. Kato JPN 35.02; 3. D. Lobkov RUS 35.11; 4. F. Yu CHN 35.18; 5. Y. Oikawa JPN 35.21; 6. P. Koskela FIN 35.47

 

Americans: 7. J. Cheek 35.48; 10. T. Fredricks 35.61; 11. K. Carpenter 35.79; 18. C. FitzRandolph 36.23

 

Division B Americans: 11. M. Pelchat 36.96

 

Men’s 1500-meters:

1. M. Tuitert NED 1:46.57; 2. S. Kuipers NED 1:47.02; 3. E. Wennemars NED 1:47.52; 4. B. Nijenhuis NED 1:47.54; 5. P. Andersen NOR 1:47.76; 6. C. Hedrick USA 1:47.92

 

Americans: 9. D. Parra 1:48.67; 10. J. Cheek 1:48.74; 17. C. Mull 1:50.67

Division B Americans: 13. T. Hoffmann 1:52.70

 

 

 

 

Melissa Scott
Director, Public and Media Relations
U.S. Speedskating
Blackberry: 440-610-1129
Office: 440-899-0128
www.usspeedskating.org