2006 Outdoor Nationals - Day 1 Bowe Dominates First Day at Nationals
Florida teen notches new women's record
By Planet staff
(posted Friday, May 26, 2006) 
Brittany Bowe
photo: Luigino
No one ever doubted Brittany Bowe's ability to compete at the adult level. Last year, the Florida skater won the 300-meter time trial in the junior division at Outdoor Nationals with a time a full second faster than any of the adult women. Today, the 18-year-old lived up to her promise. She won both women's events on the first day of Outdoor Nationals and set a new U.S. record. The record came in this morning's 300-meter time trial on the Velodrome track in Colorado Springs. Before Bowe skated, California's Sara Sayasane claimed the U.S. record, shaving a tenth of a second off of the old mark of 28.442 seconds. But she didn't get to keep the record for long. When Bowe's turn came, she chopped nearly a half-second off the old mark to become the first U.S. woman to go below 28 seconds. Bowe's time may have been faster if it hadn't been for a wind that kicked up before the start of the women's time trials. But she says she didn't even notice the wind. "I was so focused on the race that I didn't even feel it," she said. Bowe was confident she could break the 28-second mark after posting a time of 28.003 seconds in practice Thursday. After watching Sayasane break the record, Bowe was even more determined. "Seeing that put some pressure on me and I got me all pumped up." Watching from track-side, George Neal of Liberty Sports said Bowe made it look easy. "Watching her is deceptive," he said. She doesn't sprint with the same quick, frantic steps of most racers. "Instead, she uses lots of stride and power." Bowe, a member of the Luigino Racing team, followed up on her new record by winning the 1000 meters and beating Hyper rival Jessica Smith. The women maintained a moderate pace until a lap and a half before the finish. At that point, Sayasane took off. "She shot down low and I went with her," Bowe said. Bowe spinted ahead around the final turn. Smith used one of her epic hawks to grab second place away from Sayasane. Smith, 22, is making her return to Outdoor Nationals this year. An 11-time world champion, she is expected, along with Bowe, to lead a resurgence of the once-powerful U.S. women's team. With stars like Smith, Cheryl Ezzell, Julie Glass and Theresa Cliff, the U.S. women's team dominated the World Championships in years past. But last year, the team was unable to win a single medal. The world women's record for the 300-meter time trial is 26.986 seconds, set by Italy's Simona De Cesaris in 1987. Top finishers:
Women's 300-meter time trial - Brittany Bowe (Luigino) 27.941
- Sara Sayasane (Milpitis Speed) 28.34
- Jessica Smith (Hyper) 28.442
(Results provided by George Neal of Liberty Sports.) • Go to Upset in Basel • Go to World Cup tries a new format. • Go to Barbotin, Finster Win Val d'Europe. • Go to Smith, Presti Win Seoul World Cup. • Go to Event news. • Go to more Racing News. • Go to the Beginner's Guide to Outdoor Racing. | 
