Kearns, Utah (PRWEB) October 03, 2016 -- US Speedskating announced its 2016-17 Short Track Fall World Cup roster today following a weekend of action-packed racing at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah. After the two-day meet, six men and six ladies earned roster spots for the first two ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cups, which will be held on November 4-6 in Calgary and November 11-13 at the Utah Olympic Oval.
Three-time Olympic medalist J.R. Celski (Federal Way, Wash.) leads the men’s team after a perfect weekend of racing, winning all four race events and all 15 heats he raced in. World Cup gold medalist John-Henry Krueger (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had an impressive weekend as well finishing second to Celski and will join him on the men’s team.
Filling out the rest of the men’s roster will be Adam Callister (Salt Lake City, Utah), Keith Carroll Jr. (Honey Brook, Pa.), Thomas Hong (Laurel, Md.) and Ryan Pivirotto (Ann Arbor, Mich.).
“From top to bottom, the men pushed one another this past weekend and brought the best racing out of each other,” said Anthony Barthell, the men’s short track national team head coach. “We have a strong and deep group of skaters on Team USA heading into the first four ISU World Cups. We have a few more guys who just missed the team but will continue to push our top skaters in training and contribute to everyone’s preparation.”
On the women’s side, two Olympians will headline the roster in Jessica Kooreman (Melvindale, Mich.) and two-time Olympic medalist Katherine Reutter (Champaign, Ill.). Reutter returns to the ice after ending a four-year retirement.
“It’s exciting to see Jessica [Kooreman] and Katherine [Reutter] lead our women’s team into the World Cup season and help with the growth of the rest of the team,” said Women’s National Team Head Coach, Alex Izykowski. “From what we saw this past weekend, we’ve got a competitive women’s team with any of our women capable of battling in every distance.”
Kimi Goetz (Flemington, N.J), who finished the weekend as the women’s leading point-getter in the first race of the American Cup series, returns to the World Cup team along with Katy Ralston (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), Kristen Santos (Fairfield, Conn.) and April Shin (Rockville, Md.).
Of the 12-member team, nine of them skated in an ISU World Cup during the 2015-16 season and all 12 athletes have ISU international racing experience. For a full roster with athlete’s hometowns, click here.
Men
Adam Callister
Keith Carroll Jr.
J.R. Celski
Thomas Hong
John-Henry Krueger
Ryan Pivirotto
Women
Kimi Goetz
Jessica Kooreman
Katy Ralston
Katherine Reutter
Kristen Santos
April Shin
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About US Speedskating
From Pond to Podium, we are US Speedskating. We grow and nurture a sport where all ages can experience the thrill of speed and the camaraderie of the skating community. US Speedskating is responsible for the development of speed skating from grassroots to the highest elite racing programs. US Speedskating is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union as the governing body for the sport of speed skating in the United States. The Organization has won 86 Olympic medals to-date, making it one of the most successful sports in U.S. Olympic history. US Speedskating is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, on Facebook and at http://www.usspeedskating.org.
Matt Whewell, US Speedskating, http://www.usspeedskating.org, +1 (801) 417-5374, [email protected]
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