Marsicano wins third spot for USOC Male Athlete of the Month

April 7, 2009--Salt Lake City, UT.

Today, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced the March Athlete of the Month winners. Although figure skater Evan Lysacek won for the male athlete, long track speedskater Trevor Marsicano (Ballston Spa, NY) earned a third-place spot in the final voting.

Marsicano demonstrated his ability to ascend up international rankings during the World Cup Finals in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 6-7. He set a world record in the 1000m (only to have it broken 22 minutes later by teammate Shani Davis). Marsicano still held on for the silver medal in the event. He captured a second silver in the 1500m. The next weekend at the World Single Distance Championships, Marsicano outskated world-class competitors to win the 1000m gold. He added three more medals: a silver in the 1500m, a bronze in the 5000m and a bronze in the team pursuit, becoming the first American to bring home four medals from a World Single Distance Championships.

Coming in second in the men's voting for the second straight month was cyclist Taylor Phinney (Boulder, CO) who collected gold and silver medals while lowering two of his American records at the UCI Track World Championships in Poland, March 26-29. Phinney is the son of speedskating Olympian Connie Carpenter, who will be inducted into the U.S. Speed Skating Hall of Fame on April 18. 

Phinney became the first American in 13 years to win an elite men's world title on the track, capturing the World Championship rainbow jersey in the 4-kilometer individual pursuit. A day later, the 18-year-old phenom earned silver in the kilometer time trial.

Lindsey Vonn won the Female Athlete of the Month while the ice dancing pair of Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto was awarded Team of the Month honors.