20k ELIM TOUGH RACE FOR JUNIORS

In the Junior division we had the following skaters compete:

JUNIOR LADIES

Briana Kramer
Melanie Brandley

In this race it was just a tough race.... not that they all aren't. But it was fast and it appears that you really need a partner to fend off all of the other teams. Melanie skated a good race for her first individual race. She was there a couple of times with Bri but the pace proved too brutal. By lap 21 to go (out of a 50 lap race) she was off the back and eventually eliminated. Bri did a great job but I thought she skated a little too much on the outside which obviously is further around. Again.... it is so much easier to SIT here and write what I see versus being out there in it and doing it. Eventually Bri was eliminated.

With 9 laps to go it was a surprise that Korea was eliminated. The next lap the girl from Chile fell with France across the line and Chile fell into an embankment all twisted up. I seriously was shocked that she was able to get up and skate off.

With 3 laps to go France had caught back up to the pack (that is 400-meters that she skated by herself) and within inches was eliminated. The crowd was great and really clapped for her.

The last lap would leave Italy, Germany and Korea finishing top 3.

1st - #30 Germany
2nd - #45 Italy
3rd - #58 Korea
4th #51
5th #18 - Colombia

The numbers that were turned in versus what they called as official... do not match up. I apologize if any of the information is incorrect.

JUNIOR MEN

It would be Kimani Griffin's first race. And veteran Hank Galbraith. I was pleasantly surprised at Kimani's staying power. Hank and Kmani actually were a very strong team and had they skated very well together. There was a point where Chile grabbed Hank, Hank retaliated and then Chile pushed back all at the line. Hank was not eliminated, but disqualified. It's very unfortunate... that they did not see that Chile caused it and he reacted.

It was now all up to Kimani... .... but something else would happen... Hank being a "teammate" gave Kimani a "relay tag". I do not know if Kimai knew it or not but he shot to the front and they immediately DQ'd him. He actually looked good - good enough to medal at that point. But who knows....

Great job to these skaters...