MN Masters Speedskating

 
Short Track Olympic Trials were held this weekend in Salt Lake. Three women and five men qualified for the team (the men’s team qualified for the relay events and gets additional spots as a result). 17 year old newcomer, Maame Biney looks like our best hope for a female medal. John Henry Krueger, who came down with the swine flu during the 2014 Olympic Trials, could be the men’s best hope as he qualified in both the 500 and the 1500. Long Track Olympic Trials will be early next month.

Women:

1. Maame Biney: 17 years old, from Ghana, the first African American to make the Short Track Olympic team.  Biney qualified for the 500 meter event in dominating fashion.  According to her U.S. Speedskating bio she was told she was skating too fast to be a figure skater when she starting skating on the East Coast at the age of 6.  Plans to be chemical engineer.  Jovial personality and other characteristics will make her a focal point of ice Olympic coverage. One of her fans also had the events best signs: Kick Some Hiney, Biney.

2. Lana Gehring: bronze medal winning member of the 2010 relay team, qualified for the 1500m.

3. Jessica Kooreman: finished 4th and 6th in the 2014 1000m and 1500m.  Last woman to make the team, she qualifed in the 1000m on Sunday.

The women’s team failed to qualify for the relay events, based on poor performances by U.S. skaters at qualifying a year or so ago.   Notably Katherine Reutter-Adamak, the former face of U.S. Women’s short track, did not make the team.  Santos also missed out.

 

Men:

1. J.R. Celski: former inliner will be a third time Olympian. Celski was inconsistent at trials and fell multiple times, including twice in the 1000m final.

2. John Henry Krueger: qualified for the 500 and 1500 four years after coming down with swine flu at the 2014 Olympic Trials.

3. Aaron Tran: from the same town as Celski, in Washington state, he was steady throughout the trials winning the first 500 final.  Media bio says his favorite quote is the same as my sisters, 20 years ago when she was 10 years old.

4. Thomas Hong: Korean born, in 1997, credits his Mom for his success.  Media bio says his favorite musician is Kayne, so he will be hard to root for.

5. Ryan Pivirotto: was in the cool down room taking off his skates when he learned he had made the team when another skater, in his heat, was disqualified.