Fast skating and a gold medal at the ISU World Cup in Norway

Skating faster than any man has ever skated the 1500m in Europe, U.S. long track Olympian Shani Davis (Chicago, IL) blasted across the finish line yesterday in Hamar, Norway with a gold medal and another new track record with a time of 1:44.27. Following the medal ceremony on the first day of the ISU World Cup, Davis was presented with the Oscar Award for speedskating. He won the award last spring following his two world record-breaking performances at the 2008-2009 World Cup Final in the 1000m and the 1500m.

"It was a special moment and one that Shani definitely deserves," said Mike Kooreman, US Speedskating Long Track Coordinator/Assistant Coach.

Along with Davis's record-breaking 1500m race, Olympian Chad Hedrick skated a brisk 1:45.71, finishing in fourth place, just off the podium. "When he simply focuses on skating correctly, he can get the job done," Kooreman said. "Today he was one step closer to a great race."

Also skating the Men's 1500m A division, Trevor Marsicano (Ballston Spa, NY), Brian Hansen (Glenview, IL) and Jonathan Kuck (Champaign, IL) put in some of their best performances of the season. Marsicano finished the race in tenth place with a time of 1:46.79, right on pace with his performances during the 2008-2009 season. "(Trevor) has all the confidence in the world that he will be right back to where he was at the end of the season last year," Kooreman said.

Hansen, one of many U.S. skaters who were ill this week, finished his 1500m in 11^th place with a time of 1:46.98, his highest World Cup finish ever. Kuck has also been battling illness but still got on the ice to earn World Cup points, finishing in 20^th place.

"Jonathan was not healthy enough to race," Kooreman said, "but since five points could make the difference between being on the Olympic Team or not, he got himself on the ice and made it through the race."

The U.S. Ladies skated the 5000m during yesterday's races with Catherine Raney skating in the A division. Raney skated her best race of the season, finishing in tenth place with a time of 7:12.35. "She seems to be improving every time she races, so I think we can look for some good results from her later this season," Kooreman said.

In the Ladies 5000m B division, Jilleanne Rookard (Woodhaven, MI) tore up the ice to win her event with a fast time of 7:03.28, making her a definite medal contender for future races. Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. (Wheaton, IL) finished the race in third place with a time of 7:09.12 and Olympian Maria Lamb (River Falls, WI) set a new personal best with a time of 7:13.37, finishing in ninth place.

On the second day of racing at the ISU World Cup in Norway, both Hedrick and Davis opted out of the 10,000m, and Kuck and Marsicano withdrew due to illness. Hansen and Ryan Bedford (Midland, MI skated in the 10K B division with Hansen skating an impressive race, finishing in ninth place with 13:36.96. Bedford's consistent race was strong and he ended in 13^th place with a 13:42.

Rookard had another amazing performance during the Ladies1500m A division, destroying her personal best time with 1:58.95, earning her a 12^th place finish. Swider-Peltz skated one of her best races on the World Cup circuit this season to finish with a time of 2:00.49.

In the Ladies 1500m B group, Raney ended in second place with a time of 1:59.73, and Lamb finished in 13^th place with 2:02.99.

Team USA returns to the United States to recover and begin training for the last two World Cup events before the Olympic Games. The next ISU World Cup will be held in Calgary, Canada on Dec. 4-6. For complete results, visit www.usspeedskating.org and follow USS on Twitter @usspeedskating.

Tags: Catherine Raney, Chad Hedrick, ISU World Cup, Jonathan Kuck, Shani Davis, Trevor Mariscano, US Speed Skating