ALL 500-M HEAT & 1/4-SEMI RESULTS

All the heats have run. Here are the following results:

JR LADIES

Both USA skaters make their 1/4's. They have drawn the same quarter. This means that 4 skaters will be competing for 2 spots to go to the semi.

Mariah Richardson
Alex Harris

The girls JUST raced their quarter. It was Korea in first fron the gun, keeping it slow. Mariah sat behind her and Alex did all she could to catch up from the start. As you might know, Alex is more well known for her distance skating. But she would have to fight her teammate for the second spot. At one point Alex went around both Mariah and the Korean. Of course Korea counter attacked and moved back to the front and the Korean led through the last corner and to the line. But that left the two girls from USA wanting the lone spot left. The only time that Mariah APPEARED to put effort into the race was when she hawked Alex at the line. But it would not be enough for Mariah to move on.

Alexandra Harris will move onto the semi-final for the 500 meter later this afternoon.

JUNIOR MEN

Colin Thomas
Chad Horne

These two boys easily made their quarter-final.

Chad will go first in his quarter. He has a tough quarter. He is 4th off of the line and fighting just to catch them... he is now with the pack, he passes one... then the skater in the 2 spot.... and as they round the corner he drops back just a bit and now it's 3 of them fighting for 2 spots. He drops his head and cranks it. he passes the two in 1 and 2 for the win and moves onto the SEMI.

Colin Thomas has Italy, Colombia and Korea in his 1/4. He gets off of the line and they are all together. Colombia pops out in front followed by Korea and Italy. Colin is now in fourth and he knows this will not be easy. He battles all the way through the last turn, he moves up into 3rd and as they approach the line he knows... it will come down to the hawk.... it will be between Italy and him... long legs, long hawk.... We have to wait.............. so do you................. eventually it is announced, Colombia, Italy and USA. He just misses making the semi! Great job.


SENIOR LADIES

Brittany Bowe
Sara Sayasane

Both ladies would easily make their quarter-final.

Sara is on the line with Korea, Colombia and Argentina. The gun goes off. She is in 4th place and the Korean is leading with Colombia #2 and Argentina. Down the backside Sara kicks it in... and goes around Argentina, and starts to move up on Colombia... but she steps out and they all pass Korea. Colombia is easily leading and Argentina moves into the #2 spot, Sara's head drops and she drives her knees so hard. As they approach the line she looks up and throws her hawk as does the girl from Argentina. We have to wait... It is Sara who gets to move on!!!!

Britt has Chile, Nicole Begg from New Zealand and Argentina in her 1/4. From the gun it is Britt and Chile with Nicole chasing and Argentina even further back. Eventually Nicole Begg, another known distance skater will close the gap some... but not enough to catch Britt and Chile who will move onto the semi.

SENIOR MEN

Joey Mantia
Josh Wood

Mantia was first off of the line and France went with him. By the first major turn, Mantia and France were almost 75 meters ahead and continued that lead plus some for an easy move onto the quarter-final.

For Josh Wood, his first race of this Championships, he is another skater known as a distance skater, it would not be so easy. He would have the two Italian sprinters and a Korean sprinter.

If we go back a few days ago, you will remember that Sebatian Cano (the #2 sprinter for Team USA) broke his boot in half and I assume he was unable to rectify his equipment problem. That put Jonathan into the 200 and Josh Wood into the 500.

Josh got off of the line in second and remained there for about 150 meters. It was then that the second Italian would go by and now it was 2 Italians leading, Josh and then the Korean. I knew that would not last long. The Korean moved up quickly and passed Josh and one of the Italians into the 2 spot. The 4 of them battled until the line where it would be Italy, Korea, Italy and Josh.

Joey Mantia just qualified for his 500-meter semi.

Great job skaters. Linda