US Speedskating Prepares for World Sprint Championships in Seoul
Kearns, Utah (PRWEB) February 24, 2016 -- US Speedskating will send six (6) athletes to Seoul, Korea for the ISU World Sprint Championships that will take place at the Taereung International Skating Rink this weekend, Feb. 27-28.
Among those athletes will be Brittany Bowe (Ocala, Fla.), who is the reigning World Sprint Champion and most recently won three medals – silver and two bronze – at World Single Distances Championships in Kolomna, Russia.
“I'm really looking forward to the start of the World Sprint Championships,” said Bowe. “In hopes of defending my title, I'm going into the weekend focusing on perfect execution in all four races. With the level of competitiveness in the ladies field, it will definitely be a race to the end.”
Joining Bowe will be compatriot Heather Bergsma (High Point, N.C.), who won two silvers at World Single Distances two weeks ago. Bergsma finished second to Bowe in last year’s World Sprint Championships and has medaled each of the last three years, including a 2013 Championship.
Sugar Todd (Omaha, Neb.) will be the third and final female racing for the United States in Seoul. This will be her fourth career World Sprint Championship, with her highest finish coming last year in Astana, Kazakhstan when she placed 13th overall.
On the men’s side, two-time Olympic champion Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) will try to add to his four overall World Sprint medals. He was the overall champion in the 2009 World Sprint Championships when they were in Moscow, Russia.
Joining Davis will be Joey Mantia (Ocala, Fla.) and Mitch Whitmore (Waukesha, Wisc.). Whitmore’s best finish was 12th in 2013 in Salt Lake City. This is Mantia’s first World Sprint Championships.
The United States have won 56 overall medals, 20 gold medals, at the World Sprint Championships, most among any country (two countries are tied at second with 29 overall medals).
“The team and I are looking forward to a showdown this weekend at the World Sprint Championships,” said Matt Kooreman, National Sprint Team Head Coach. “It's exciting to have three World Sprint Champions from the U.S. in Shani Davis, Heather Bergsma and Brittany Bowe, competing again for the title in the host country for the next Winter Olympics."
Each athlete will skate two 500m and two 1000m events, one from each distance on separate days, with the champion being named based on the cumulative ranking of all four races. Racing begins at 5 p.m. local time on Saturday, Feb. 27 (3 a.m. EST). For live results, click here and to watch the action on demand, visit icenetwork.com.
Universal HD will have coverage of the World Sprint Championships on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. EST and Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. EST. In addition, NBCSN will broadcast an hour highlight show on March 2 beginning at 1:00 a.m. EST.
Race Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 27 * local time (EST in parenthesis)
5 p.m. (3 a.m.) – Women 500m (1)
5:50 p.m. (3:50 a.m.) – Men 500m (1)
6:45 p.m. (4:45 a.m.) – Women 1000m (1)
7:45 p.m. (5:45 a.m.) – Men 1000m (1)
Sunday, Feb. 28
5 p.m. (3 a.m.) – Women 500m (2)
5:50 p.m. (3:50 a.m.) – Men 500m (2)
6:45 p.m. (4:45 a.m.) – Women 1000m (2)
7:45 p.m. (5:45 a.m.) – Men 1000m (2)
8:25 p.m. (6:45 a.m.) – Award Ceremony
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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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