Introducing RMU Speedskating!

Welcome to the RMU collegiate speedskating program website. The information found in the pages on the sidebar to the right can also be found in this pdf brochure that is printable.

RMU at Junior Worlds – 1/10/2010

Today was a bit better for team U.S.A. Cole, Robert and Morgan made it out of the preliminaries in the 1000m. Unfortunately they all drew very tough heats and did not make it out of the the next round. So…………. the Junior World experience is finished for this year for Junior Team U.S.A. However, Cole and Robert both finished 10th and 11th overall (out of 53 skaters). All the skaters have come away from the experience with their eyes opened to the depth and difficulty of the international short track world. All the skaters said that the experience has shown them that to do well in the U.S. is one thing, BUT to be successful and medal internationally is going to take a complete analysis of and rededication to what needs to be done to get to the next level. Julian Wood said, “Losing here in Taipei has shown me more than winning in the U.S. ever could” and “I am going to ask Coach K to really kick it up cause I’m ready”! The skaters also made some friends from Canada and Great Britain.
Tonight is the banquet, tomorrow during the day a tour of Taipei (Including Taipei 101 the tallest building in the world) and tomorrow evening a trip to one of the famous night markets and “Snake Alley”! I’ll probably pass on Snake Alley because seeing snakes have their heads chopped off to drink their blood really doesn’t hold much appeal for me (gag). I’ll probably slip off somewhere and buy a fresh bag of chicken feet and watch the crowd go by (just joking). This will be my last blog entry from the Junior World Champioships in Taipei. A very special thank you John Watton who helped me with this blog. I could not have done it without him and to Alan and Becky Burkholder who kept an eye on my mom as she watched my house and dogs. I’m sure Alan did not anticipate shoveling snow 3 times a day for 6 days straight! Thanks guys! Pictures and videos are coming, but we are having trouble downloading them. Keep watching the site because we WILL figure it out! Bye-bye for now! See you state side!

Heidi W. Krueger
RMU Speedskating Director

RMU at Junior Worlds – 1/9/2010

From The Director’s Chair:

A rough day for Team U.S.A. today. Unfortunately none of the girls advanced out of their 500m preliminaries. Julian was DQ’d in his 500m preliminary. Cole did advance out of his 500m preliminary, but did not make it out of his heat. Robert made it through to the semis, but did not make it to the final. The Canadians DOMINATED the 500m men’s final.
Also, both the U.S. ladies and the U.S. men were eliminated in the 3000m relay. Due to the fact that China fell unexpectedly in their heat yesterday and were able to catch up and finish the fastest third they ended up against our guys in the semis with KOREA! Our kids fought so hard but it was one big challenge to have to beat both China and Korea in order to advance. The other heat ended up only with Canada, Poland, Japan and Russia. Canada won easily with Japan finishing second. If China had not fallen yesterday and had won their heat (they were winning easily when they fell) the seeding would have held and we would have been alone with China or Korea or Canada. In my opinion we could have beaten Japan. Thus making the finals. Alas…….. that’s short track! There is a little girl in first place from Korea and she is AMAZING! She floats, explodes, zigs and zags effortlessly. She is going to be a star for sure! Well off to walk the streets again……… Taipei is a wonderful city. Today the sun is shining and it is almost 70 degrees.

(Results http://www.sportresult.com/federations/ISU/ShortTrack/ )

RMU at Junior Worlds – 1/8/2010

From The Director’s Chair:

Wow! What a first day of competition! First let me start off by saying that the Annex Arena is spectacular and holds 16,000 people. They were able to get the ice ready in time for the opening ceremonies and competition. The opening ceremonies were lovely with members of the Taipei Youth Speedskating Team each carrying signs representing each country represented at the Junior World Championships. Racing began today with the men’s 1500m heats. All three skaters represented by the U.S. (Robert, Cole and Julian) advanced out of their heats to the quarter finals. In the quarter final races Robert and Cole both advanced through some very hard fought racing! The ice was very chopped up and both skaters in different races had the ice break out from under them causing them to go down completely on 1 knee! They both fought back to finish in qualifying positions! Coach Joe almost had 2 heart attacks! Julian missed qualifying by finishing 4th in his quarter final, but skated a great race. Then came the semi-finals. In order to advance skaters had to finish in either 1st or 2nd place to advance to the Final. Robert’s race was first and he skated an excellent race and advanced to the Final. Cole’s race was unreal! There were six skaters in his group. The race went off fairly fast and Cole stayed in second position for most of the early part of the race, but skaters were changing places like crazy. Cole and three other skaters started to gap and drop two of the guys who then collided and smashed into the wall. That left three guys and Cole. Cole was sitting in the fourth spot, with the lead skater in control of the race on the last lap, BUT the 2nd and 3rd place skaters right in front of Cole were battling for that second position spot when BAM they took each other out. Cole who was sitting right there said, “Thank you very much I think I would like to go to a World Junior Final” and advanced! The lesson to be learned here sports fans is to never stop and stay in the fight cause in short track stuff happens! In the 1500m final there were 8 skaters because so many skaters had been inserted because of DQ’s so it was CRAZY! In the final our guys fought hard and hung with them all. Cole finished 6th and Robert pulling up early finished 7th. Korea is as usual AMAZING! Some of China’s men are strong as well, and Canada is strong too. The U.S. ladies had a rough start to their day. Only Morgan Izykowski of Utah advanced out of her quarter final, BUT the U.S. ladies did advance in the 3000m relay. Our U.S. men advanced in their relay as well, but it wasn’t pretty! What heart strength poor Coach Joe had left after the 1500m quickly was lost after too many near misses to count! Julian  avoided a catastrophic wreck and literally threaded a needle hitting 5 of the 7 blocks on the one apex of the track! How he did it I will never know! The weaving and the blocking that was going on at the tags was ridiculous. John-Henry made a wise beyond his years decision in order to receive his tag and moved his position but could still only barely touch his team mates hand, NO PUSH! They fought through it and made it out. However, I have never seen such an ugly relay on the part of all 4 teams in my life! But as Coach Mike Tomlin says, “A “W” in the win column is a win and we’ll take it! Tomorrow: 500m so………… wish us luck!

(Follow results on http://www.sportresult.com/federations/ISU/ShortTrack/?sea=99899800000022)