Two medals at the World Single Distance Championships

Peri Kinder - U. S. Speedskating March 17, 2009

If this event is the test-run for the Olympics, the Americans should be very happy. Long track speedskaters Shani Davis (Chicago, IL) and Trevor Marsicano (Ballston Spa, NY) took first and second in the men's 1500m, the opening event for the 2009 ISU World Single Distance Championships at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Canada. Fresh off his world-record race last weekend in Salt Lake City, Davis won the 1500m championship title with a time of 1:46.17.

"The performance today was really good," Davis said. "It was a great opportunity for me to come here and test the waters. . . this was a step in the right direction."

Marsicano's time in the 1500m was 1:46.30 with bronze-medalist Denny Morrison (CAN) finishing at 1:47.05. U.S. skater Chad Hedrick (Spring, TX) barely missed a podium appearance with a time of 1:47.08.

"This was my first world championship medal," Marsicano said. "Words can't describe how happy I am with my performance."

In the ladies' 3000m, a strong performance by Renate Groenewold (NED) put her in first place with a time of 4:05.43, a new track record. The silver and bronze medals went to Martina Sablikova (CZE) and Kristina Groves (CAN). Two U.S. ladies finished in the top fifteen of the event; Catherine Raney-Norman (Elm Grove, WI) and Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. (Wheaton, IL) finished 13th and 14th respectively. Maria Lamb (River Falls, WI) finished in 21st with a time of 4:23.17.

Racing continues tomorrow with Davis, Marsicano and Nick Pearson (Vernon, WI) racing the men's 1000m and Marsicano and Ryan Bedford (Midland, MI) competing in the men's 5000m. For the ladies, Lamb and Swider-Peltz, Jr. will be skating the ladies' 1500m.

Tags: Catherine Raney-Norman, Chad Hedrick, Maria Lamb, Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr., Nick Pearson, Ryan Bedford , Shani Davis, Trevor Mariscano

Rate It

Signin to rank content.