By Anthony Reynolds
Marquette, MI – It was a case of same story, different day at the U.S. Short Track Speedskating Championships in Marquette last night.
Hyo-Jung Kim and Apolo Ohno won their 500 and 1500 Meter events to remain in first place in their respective standings. Kim has now won every race she has participated in this week, and is currently 39 points ahead of second place Allison Baver.
Ohno, on the other hand, finished first in every competition except the Men's 500 Meter Final, in which he crashed on the final turn of the race. A subsequent disqualification of leader Rusty Smith (for an illegal block) allowed USOEC skater Anthony Lobello to take the win. Ohno now leads Lobello by 50 points atop the Men's standings.
Shani Davis picked up five more points in his effort to become the first U.S. athlete to compete in both short and long track speedskating at the Olympics.
Tonight's races include the 1000 and 1500 Meter events, beginning at 6:30 at the Berry Events Center.
STANDINGS AFTER TUESDAY
Top five finalists in each division will represent the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
Men
1. Apolo Ohno (89 pts.)
2. Anthony Lobello (39 pts.)
3. Alex Izykowski (35.5 pts)
4. J.P. Kepka (30 pts.)
5. Rusty Smith (18.5 pts.)
6. Travis Jayner (14 pts.)
7. Michael Kooreman (13 pts.)
8. Shani Davis (8.5 pts.)
9. Misi Toth (3 pts.)
10. Jordan Malone (2.5 pts.)
11. Ryan Bedford (1 pt.)
12. Trevor Marsicano (.5 pts.)
13. Eric Lee, Joey Lindsey, Derek Gray, and Chris Weaver (0 pts.)
Women
1. Hyo-Jung Kim (102 pts.)
2. Allison Baver (63 pts.)
3. Kimberly Derrick (27 pts.)
4. Kristen Biondo (18 pts.)
5. Caroline Hallisey (19.5 pts.)
6. Amy Peterson (10.5 pts.)
7. Maria Garcia (10 pts.)
8. M. Tina Koenig (4.5 pts.)
9. Kira Fling (3 pts.)
10. Sarah Lang (2 pts.)
11. Brigid Farrell (1 pt.)
12. Carly Wilson (.5 pts)
13. Jade Wheeler, Cherise Wilkins, Sophia Milan, and Lezleigh Jaworski (0 pts.)