WOODBRIDGE, VA (January 28, 2012) – After two days of racing at the 2012 U.S. Junior National Short Track Speedskating Championships, John-Henry Krueger of Pittsburgh, the defending 2011 U.S. Junior National Champion, is sweeping the men's division with wins in all four events raced to date. U.S. National team member Sarah Chen, racing for the DeMorra Speedskating Club in Southern California, has also scored four wins in the Junior Women's division. With two events remaining on Sunday, the 1000m and 1500m super final distances, both Krueger and Chen are well positioned to secure a berth on the U.S. Junior World Championship team that will be named on Sunday.
“The men’s team is shaping up as I thought it would, but the ladies team is a bit topsy turvy right now,” said U.S. Junior World Team Coach Anthony Barthell. “Except for the top spot, this ladies Junior World Team won't be decided until the last lap of the last race."
Rounding out the top 5 on the men's side, and still in contention for one of the four spots on the US Junior Worlds team, are returning 2011 Junior World team members James Rodowsky from Annapolis, MD, followed closely by Adam Callister; both train at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah. In 4th spot is Claude Gilbert from Connecticut who trains with the Pittsburgh Speedskating Club, followed by Brett Perry from Midland, Michigan who trains at the US Olympic Education Center in Marquette, MI.
"I was racing aggressively, but exercising caution at the same time,” said Krueger. “Depending on ice conditions, it is which skating lane you choose and where you sit in the pack that makes the difference. "
On the Women's side, Sally Chea from the Prince William Ice Speedskating Club in Woodbridge, VA sits in 2nd spot, followed by 2011 US Junior World team member Kendal Pumphrey from DeMorra Speedskating, and Sarah Chen's younger sister Jacqueline Chen, also from DeMorra. In 5th spot is Alexis Burkholder from Pittsburgh Speedskating, the 2011 US Junior Women's champion on the rebound from knee surgery, followed by her 2011 US Junior World teammate Rachel Stewart from Chesterfield, Virginia and the Virginia Speedskating Club, also recovering from recent surgery.
"My results were very rewarding and I am looking forward to Sunday's races," said Sarah Chen.
In Group 2 Junior Women's racing, April Shin from Rockville, Maryland and the Dominion Speedskating Club leads the field, tied on points with Aileen Song from Canada, and Sophie Mittelstadt from the Potomac Speedskating Club.
In Group 2 Junior Men's action, Jonathan Heo from Virginia Speedskating leads followed by Harshaan Athwal from Pittsburgh Speedskating and Stephen Meyer from Connecticut.
Racing resumes tomorrow at 11 am EST at the Prince William Ice Center. Racing will be webcast live tomorrow via http://www.ustream.tv/channel/shorttrackhdusjuniors2012
Please visit https://webpoint.usspeedskating.org/files/Event_PDFs/1975_Event_OtherDoc2.pdf for extended race results, and https://webpoint.usspeedskating.org/files/Event_PDFs/1975_Event_OtherDoc.pdf for current overall rankings.