SHANGHAI, China (December 10, 2011) – Team USA made two trips to the podium today at the Korean Air ISU Short Track World Cup 4 in Shanghai.
Reigning 1500m World Champion Katherine Reutter (Champaign, IL) won silver in today’s 1500m with a time of 2:22.764, in a close finish with Korea’s Ha-Ri Cho, the current 1500m overall leader, who crossed the line at 2:22.473. Han Xiao (CHN) took third with a time of 2:23.061. Lana Gehring (Glenview, IL) finished 5th in the A Final, posting 2:23.266. Emily Scott (Springfield, MO) skated to third in today’s B Final with a time of 2:35.200
“I was really proud of the way that I skated today,” said Reutter. “The coaching staff and I all knew that I was going to the line without all the weapons that I’m capable of having, but we also knew how to play to my strengths. I felt like I had the most tactical and strongest race that I was capable of, and I’m really proud of the way I was able to finish. I’m also really proud of my competitors, Ha-Ri Cho especially, had a phenomenal finish, and there is no one I’d rather share the podium with, except of course Lana, my teammate.”
Today’s silver in the 1500 is Reutter’s fourth medal of the 2011-12 World Cup season and her 40th career World Cup medal.
Jessica Smith (Melvindale, MI) skated a strong 500m today, winning bronze with a time of 45.338. This is Smith’s second World Cup medal of the season and her third career World Cup podium. “I earned a bronze medal today in the 500m and I was excited to make the podium in China,” said Smith after today’s race. “ I’m looking forward to having good results tomorrow in the (second) 500m.”
China’s Kexin Fan won today’s 500m(1) with a time of 43.873, while teammate Qiuhong Liu took second, crossing the finish at 43.959. Alyson Dudek (Hales Corners, WI) finished 10th overall in today’s 500m (1), skating a 44.884 to take second in the C Final.
Team USA’s ladies relay squad (Gehring, Dudek, Reutter and Scott) won their Semifinal today with a time of 4:14.924 ahead of Russia (4:14.999), Korea (4:15.162) and Canada (4:46.080), respectively. The team will skate in tomorrow’s A Final against Russia, China and Japan.
“The relay was spectacular,” added Reutter. “I’m so happy to have finally made it in to an A Final. It’s our first of the season. We’ve had some bad luck with falls up until now, but we are turning that around this weekend.”
Travis Jayner (Midland, MI) took sixth place in today’s 500m(1), skating a time of 41.813 in today’s B Final. Canada’s Olivier Jean won the distance today (41.073), followed by Qiuwen Gong (CHN) at 41.516, and Daan Breeuwsma (NED) at 41.667.
Korea’s Jinkyu Noh set a World Record today, winning the 1500m with a time of 2:09.041, breaking the previous World Record time of 2:10.639 set in October 2003 by Hyun-Soo Ahn (KOR) in Marquette, MI. Charles Hamelin (CAN) took second today with a time of 2:09.098, and Yoon-Gy Kwak was third (2:09.548). Kyle Carr (Peachtree City, GA) finished 11th in today’s 1500m with a time of 2:17.973 in the B Final.
The US men’s relay team (Carr, Jordan Malone (Denton, TX), John-Henry Krueger (Pittsburgh, PA), and Jayner) finished 4th in today’s Semifinal with a time of 6:41.286, behind Korea (6:36.290), Great Britain (6:38.222), and Netherlands (6:38.230). Team USA will skate tomorrow’s B Final facing Netherlands, Russia and Japan.
World Cup 4 concludes in Shanghai tomorrow with medal rounds in the 500m(2), 1000m and relays. Fans can watch the races live from Shanghai beginning at 10pm (MST) at http://livemanager.eurovision.edgesuite.net/isu/site/index.html. Extended race results from today’s World Cup competition are available at http://www.sportresult.com/federations/ISU/ShortTrack/