Good Sunday to Everyone!

I need to apologize for not getting everyone results from Saturday sooner! I have been traveling for Sylvan this week and worked early Saturday and didn't get a chance to type up results. Sorry!  Now for results!

This weekend, Casey and the US team traveled to Harbin, China. From what I understand, it's a two hour flight northwest of Beijing.  He is enjoying the new sights of donkeys pulling carts and bicyclists in the streets. He's said this has been the biggest culture shock he's had in awhile. The accommodations are good and the food is up to par.  He wasn't sure what to expect but they have exceeded what he'd been told.

Day 1 -Saturday
Saturday's races weren't as good as Casey would have liked.  The ice is much like Milwaukee, in the sense that a work hors� skater does well.  The ice doesn't have much glide, so you really have to work to keep up your speed and pace. This makes the 1000m race a struggle for some skaters who use technique and efficiency as their weapons. It was a tough day, U.S. Speedskating long track national coach Ryan Shimabukuro summed up Saturday's races.

Casey was paired with Jeremy Wotherspoon in his 500m race. Casey opened in 9.9 seconds. He told me later he had a major slip coming out of the first corner and almost went down. He regained his balance and unfortunately lost a few tenths; he crossed the line in a time of 36.15. This put him in 11th place.  The winning time was posted by Pekka Koskela (FIN) in 35.38.

Next was the 1000m race. Casey was paired with Erben Wennamars from the Netherlands.  Casey opens his first 200m in 16.8.  He's got great speed going.   His first lap was a 26.2 and he really needed to work to keep his speed up.  Something he will need to work on he said.  He can't rely on the ice and the glide he needs to have power left in that last lap to be able to finish every race strong. He crossed the line with a time of 1:11.28.  Good for 10th place. The event belonged to Beorn Nijenhuis (NED) who finished in 1:10.22.

Day 2 -Sunday
I had a chance to be Casey and Kips wake up call this morning. He told me about the races form the day before and said that most of the skaters struggled in their races. He was hoping for better results today.

He starts the day in his 500m race paired with his roommate, Kip Carpenter.  They open in 9.8 seconds. He has a clean race and crosses the line with a time of 35.75 in 5th place! Much better then Saturday! Now after four 500m World Cup races Casey is sitting 5th overall in the world! Only 2 points from 4th place!

Next is his 1000m race.  He is paired with Kobayashi from Japan. Casey likes this pair because of the Japanese speed.  Kobayashi will challenge Casey to get up to top speed and quick.  They open in 16.8.  The difference today between Casey's first and last laps is only 2 seconds.  This is 3 tenths faster than Saturday!  He crosses the line in 1:11.33.  Good for 10th place again.  The winning time is placed by Nijenhuis; 1:10.47. Overall now for the World Cup standing, Casey is sitting 9th overall.  Only 9 points out of 6th place!

Not too shabby of a start for our Super Star!  He is excited to be coming home after only two weeks on the road.  He will arrive in Salt Lake Monday afternoon. We leave for Milwaukee on Wednesday! He has pre-qualified for his 500m and 1000m spots on the US World Cup team as well as for the World Championships. However, he will be skating Sunday in the 1500m race at the Pettit National Ice Center.  We can't wait to see you all there!

And if we don't get a chance to see you while we are home then have a great Holiday Season and I will email you more results in January from the World Cup in Calgary and the World Championships in Salt Lake City!

Love you all!
Jenn


DAY 1 -Saturday
Men's 500-meters
1.Pekka KOSKELA FIN 35.38;
2.Joji KATO JPN 35.53;
3.Jeremy WOTHERSPOON CAN 35.60;
4.Masaaki KOBAYASHI JPN 35.70;
5.Yuya OIKAWA JPN 35.74;
5.Fengtong YU CHN 35.74
Americans:
8. Kip CARPENTER USA 35.84;
11. Casey FITZRANDOLPH USA 36.15;
13. Joey CHEEK USA 36.18;
18. Tucker FREDRICKS USA 36.32

Men's 1000-meters
1.Beorn NIJENHUIS NED 1:10.22;
2.Simon KUIPERS NED 1:10.74;
3.Masaaki KOBAYASHI JPN1:10.76;
4.Erben WENNEMARS NED 1:10.77;
5.Gerard van VELDE NED 1:10.89; 
6.Petter ANDERSEN NOR 1:10.91
Americans:
9. Nick PEARSON USA 1:10.94;
10. Casey FITZRANDOLPH USA 1:11.28;
14. Kip CARPENTER USA1:11.70;
16. Joey CHEEK USA 1:11.83

Day 2 Sunday
Men's 500-meters
1.Jeremy WOTHERSPOON CAN 35.38;
2.Kip CARPENTER USA 35.56;
3.Joji KATO JPN 35.67;
4.Gerard van VELDE NED 35.74;
5.Casey FITZRANDOLPH USA 35.75;
5.Yuya OIKAWA JPN35.75;
5.Fengtong YU CHN 35.75
Americans:
12. Joey CHEEK USA 36.06;
13. Tucker FREDRICKS USA 36.14

Men's 1000-meters:
1.Beorn NIJENHUIS NED 1:10.37;
2.Erben WENNEMARS NED 1:10.63;
3.Gerard van VELDE NED1:10.69;
3. Jeremy WOTHERSPOON CAN 1:10.69;
5. Nick PEARSON USA 1:10.84;
6. Petter ANDERSEN NOR 1:11.06
Americans:
9. Joey CHEEK USA 1:11.28;
10. Casey FITZRANDOLPH USA 1:11.33;
12.Kip CARPENTER USA1:11.41