BERLIN, Germany (March 11, 2012) - Team USA’s Long Track team closed the 2012 ISU World Cup season today with a four podium win in Berlin, Germany
Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill) led Team USA with a gold in today’s 1000m, posting a time of 1:09.24. Kjeld Nuis (NED) took 2nd (1:09.36) and Tae-Bum Mo (KOR) finished 3rd (1:09.37). Brian Hansen (Glenview, Ill.) posted a time of 1:10.05 for 10th place.
With today’s win, Davis clinched the 2012 1000m World Cup title, his career 5th Overall World Cup title at the distance.
"It was a good way to finish the last race strong heading into the World Single Distance Championships. Hopefully, I'll continue to develop into top shape," said Davis.
"Shani was in a really tough position going into today's final 1000m. He needed to not only make up a 40 point deficit to take the overall title, but basically, only a win would give him a chance to accomplish that. He overcame a near fall with about 350m to go in the race and had his signature, gutsy last lap," said U.S. Sprint Team Head Coach Ryan Shimabukuro.
Heather Richardson (High Point, N.C.) skated to a silver medal victory in today’s 1000m, and won the Overall World Cup silver medals for the 2011-12 season. Posting a time of 1:15.77, Richardson finished .73 seconds back from Christine Nesbitt (CAN) winning the race, and the 2012 Overall World Cup title, with a time of 1:15.04. Hong Zhang (CHN) placed third in today’s race with a time of 1:15.83. Marrit Leenstra (NED) took bronze in Overall standings.
"I'm really happy with my skating. It felt really good going into today and I'm happy with how strong I finished out the World Cup circuit, and now I'm looking forward to the World Single Distance Championships," said Richardson.
"I knew she could produce another big result today because her skating had become more and more consistent over these past few weeks. She skated a strong race, but there's still some area's where she can improve on so that's very promising," added Shimabukuro.
Brittany Bowe (Ocala, FL) skated to 11th place in today’s 1000m (1:17.42) and finishes her rookie World Cup season ranked 10th Overall.
Team USA won bronze in the men’s Team Pursuit today. Posting 3:45.44, the team of
Jonathan Kuck (Champaign, Ill.),Davis and Hansen finished 1.50 seconds back from the Dutch team winning gold with 3:43.94. Korea took silver today with a time of 3:44.04. Team USA closed the 2011-12 World Cup season in 4th place in Overall Team Pursuit standings.
"Our guys showed just how impressive they are in winning a bronze today since two out of our three men had just finished racing the 1000m only 40 minutes prior to the start of their Team Pursuit race," said U.S. Coach Kip Carpenter.
In the newly added Mass Start event, Team USA skaters Kuck and Hansen had a challenging day, both falling during the pack-style race and finishing 14th and 15th, respectively. Kuck finished the season third Overall in Mass Start rankings.
"I was disappointed to fall in today's Mass Start race but happy to still be in third place in the overall world cup ranking," said Kuck.
"It was unfortunate that both Jonathan and Brian fell at different points in the race, and it cost Jonathan the Overall title, but we're just pleased that neither of them got severely injured with the World Single Distance Championships still to come," said Shimabukuro.
Maria Lamb (River Falls, WI) skated to a 6th place (8:53.24) in the ladies Mass Start, with Germany’s Claudia Pechstein winning the event crossing the finish at 8:52.06. Mariska Huisman (NED) was 2nd (8:52.32) and Anna Rokita finished 3rd (8:52.60). Lamb caps the season with a 5th place in Overall Mass Start standings.
Extended results from Berlin are available at
http://live.isuresults.eu/2011-2012/berlin/ . Team USA now travels to Heerenveen, Netherlands for the 2011-2012 ISU Single Distance World Championships, March 22-25.
Essent ISU World Cup Final - Berlin, Germany
March 9-11, 2012
Event Summary
Individual Medals (1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze):
Shani Davis - Gold in 1000m
Heather Richardson - Silver in 1000m
Jonathan Kuck - Bronze in 5000m
Men's Team Pursuit (Jonathan Kuck, Shani Davis and Brian Hansen) - Bronze
Overall Distance podium medals (1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze):
Shani Davis - Gold in 1000m & Bronze in 1500
Heather Richardson - Silver in 1000m
Tucker Fredricks - Bronze in 500m
Jonathan Kuck - Bronze in Mass Start
Notable 2011-12 Overall World Cup rankings:
Brian Hansen - 8th in 1500m
Brittany Bowe - 10th in 1000m
Maria Lamb - 5th in Mass Start
Men's Team Pursuit - 4th