 |
| Bridie Farrell |
 |
| Melissa Koenig, Janet Naess |
 |
| Kathleen Feinberg |
 |
| Ethan Cepuran, Jan Erik Naess |
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| Chase Reichmann, KC Bouttiee |
 |
| Michael Hubbs |
 |
| Nathan Feinberg |
 |
| Vince Morris, Ed Burns |
This
year the US Speedskating 25K &50K Marathon were hosted again by the
Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee,WI. This weekend was also home
of the Ice Breaker indoor running
marathon-the largest in the world. The energy was electric with so many
endurance athletes going the the limit.
After guidance from Chief Referees Brian and Ernie Kretschmann, Mark Whitmore fired the gun, and several age groups began 64.5 laps to the national marathon title.
Many of the seasoned,pro-timers/lap counter were on hand to handle the lap cards for the skaters while the flawless Butch Pearson counted down the 64.5 laps to the skaters testing their heart and mettle.
The field ,31 skaters-the largest yet at this venue, featured experienced marathoners, Olympic trialists, the ASE Long Track program, and multi-time Olympian and inline to ice pioneer KC Boutiette. KC came to race, bringing along his great family for support. KC has been active in racing world cup and Olympic trials-but he found some fiery competition from Liam Ortega and Chase Reichmann. Pro-cyclist and former Cat 1 speed skater Colton Barrett was also on hand to stoke the fires. The rest of the field, Luke Tweddale and Nick Turro (sprinters) contributed some lap leading along the 25K way. After cruising at about 37 seconds per lap, the hammer started to drop with 6 laps to go. Liam and Chase lit up the final laps with 29-30 second breakouts (30+mph). Liam seemed to be spacing himself ahead of the other senior division rivals at the bell lap. Then Chase produced an extraordinarily superhuman surge in the back stretch to take the senior national title. KC was able to edge out Liam for silver.
Ethan Cepuran took the junior division, and spent a lot time leading laps with the lead pack, including being part of the final series of surge laps. Jan Erick and Joel took silver and bronze in their first ultra endurance event. Ethan's finish also established a track record for his division.
Silvia Acevedo emerged as the national 25k champion, skating in a tight pack with rival Janet Naess. However, it took a furious sprint to the finish for Silvia to hold off a hard charging Janet. Melissa took the bronze in this F40 division.
The women seniors featured Illinois based skaters Jacky Rowe, fresh from the Olympic trials, and up and coming Carolyn Chapp. Jacky raced to gold,establishing a track record with her performance. Carolyn was rock steady with her silver winning effort.
Vince Morris was the golden standard in the M60 division. He also broke his own track record by 16 seconds. Ed Burns turned in a silver performance, and reported that he is actually 70, but appreciated being to skate alongside Vince's record breaking speed. This division was also stacked with a number competitors. Ken Huss drove in from Minnesota, former home of the national marathon, along with Chuck Hansell, and Roger Boswell. Ken and Chuck seemed to skate in a tight pack, but began to challenge each other toward the final laps. Their standings are still to be determined between these two as timing errors precluded a conclusive result.
Tony Marchese, M70 skated to a victory, despite his lap counter losing track. He was several minutes off his own track record, but still enough for gold. Veteran referee and in-liner Jim White picked up silver during his performance.
Dick Klein secured gold and a track record at M80. The always gracious and inspiring Marshall Lipton raced to silver, and continues to give hope to the elder athletes.
Michael Hubbs,Nathan Feinberg,Bridie Farrell,Kathleen Feinberg, all secured uncontested gold medals in their division. However, in a pack marathon event you always find motivation to race along side and against someone to the line. Bridie, for example, smashed her own previous track record by 4 minutes this time out.
There were a few technological glitches with the timing software. As with all marathons, skaters still need to supply a manual counter, especially with the limited volunteers available on any given weekend at the PNIC. Please consider volunteering for the 50K as a counter for January 26th event. (8:30am start)
Congratulations to the 2014 US Speedskating 25K National Champions.
Many thanks to Jeff Brand-announcer, Althea,Antonia,Leah,Samantha,Al, and so many others that helped with lap counting. And thanks to the Pettit National Ice Center for their support in hosting today's event.
After guidance from Chief Referees Brian and Ernie Kretschmann, Mark Whitmore fired the gun, and several age groups began 64.5 laps to the national marathon title.
Many of the seasoned,pro-timers/lap counter were on hand to handle the lap cards for the skaters while the flawless Butch Pearson counted down the 64.5 laps to the skaters testing their heart and mettle.
The field ,31 skaters-the largest yet at this venue, featured experienced marathoners, Olympic trialists, the ASE Long Track program, and multi-time Olympian and inline to ice pioneer KC Boutiette. KC came to race, bringing along his great family for support. KC has been active in racing world cup and Olympic trials-but he found some fiery competition from Liam Ortega and Chase Reichmann. Pro-cyclist and former Cat 1 speed skater Colton Barrett was also on hand to stoke the fires. The rest of the field, Luke Tweddale and Nick Turro (sprinters) contributed some lap leading along the 25K way. After cruising at about 37 seconds per lap, the hammer started to drop with 6 laps to go. Liam and Chase lit up the final laps with 29-30 second breakouts (30+mph). Liam seemed to be spacing himself ahead of the other senior division rivals at the bell lap. Then Chase produced an extraordinarily superhuman surge in the back stretch to take the senior national title. KC was able to edge out Liam for silver.
Ethan Cepuran took the junior division, and spent a lot time leading laps with the lead pack, including being part of the final series of surge laps. Jan Erick and Joel took silver and bronze in their first ultra endurance event. Ethan's finish also established a track record for his division.
Silvia Acevedo emerged as the national 25k champion, skating in a tight pack with rival Janet Naess. However, it took a furious sprint to the finish for Silvia to hold off a hard charging Janet. Melissa took the bronze in this F40 division.
The women seniors featured Illinois based skaters Jacky Rowe, fresh from the Olympic trials, and up and coming Carolyn Chapp. Jacky raced to gold,establishing a track record with her performance. Carolyn was rock steady with her silver winning effort.
Vince Morris was the golden standard in the M60 division. He also broke his own track record by 16 seconds. Ed Burns turned in a silver performance, and reported that he is actually 70, but appreciated being to skate alongside Vince's record breaking speed. This division was also stacked with a number competitors. Ken Huss drove in from Minnesota, former home of the national marathon, along with Chuck Hansell, and Roger Boswell. Ken and Chuck seemed to skate in a tight pack, but began to challenge each other toward the final laps. Their standings are still to be determined between these two as timing errors precluded a conclusive result.
Tony Marchese, M70 skated to a victory, despite his lap counter losing track. He was several minutes off his own track record, but still enough for gold. Veteran referee and in-liner Jim White picked up silver during his performance.
Dick Klein secured gold and a track record at M80. The always gracious and inspiring Marshall Lipton raced to silver, and continues to give hope to the elder athletes.
Michael Hubbs,Nathan Feinberg,Bridie Farrell,Kathleen Feinberg, all secured uncontested gold medals in their division. However, in a pack marathon event you always find motivation to race along side and against someone to the line. Bridie, for example, smashed her own previous track record by 4 minutes this time out.
There were a few technological glitches with the timing software. As with all marathons, skaters still need to supply a manual counter, especially with the limited volunteers available on any given weekend at the PNIC. Please consider volunteering for the 50K as a counter for January 26th event. (8:30am start)
Congratulations to the 2014 US Speedskating 25K National Champions.
Many thanks to Jeff Brand-announcer, Althea,Antonia,Leah,Samantha,Al, and so many others that helped with lap counting. And thanks to the Pettit National Ice Center for their support in hosting today's event.
Day II
of the 2014 US Speedskating Marathon featured determined athletes
that braved an early morning Milwaukee,WI snow storm in quest of a
national title. They would not be stopped by snow and ice.
Even
when the transponders were offline and manual counters were in short
supply. However just minutes before the start of the 50K US
championships, three members the ASE (Academy of Skating Excellence)
skaters entered the track and the games were on.
Co-Chief
Referee Ernie Kretschmann fired the gun, and 15 ultra-endurance
athletes were off. Speed skating is a marathon event that still
requires a LOT of muscle power for the entire event. This can also
lead to back and hip crampening and stiffening. It happens in the 5K,
and over the course of this weekend, the athletes willpower, body,
mind, and soul are tested.
The pack
started with the blazing senior division-featuring Liam.KC, and
Chase. However M50 Nathan Feinberg would co-lead laps for about 65
of the 129 laps to glory before skating with another pack later in
the race. Bridie and Michael Hubbs, M60 Vince Morris took turns in
the lead pack for quite an extensive time also. Right around 35-40
remainng laps, KC appeared to lose ground on his rivals in the
senior division, falling as much as 70 meters off the back of the
pack. This is where you saw the heart of a champion and fortune
play,as KC fought hard to sprint back to the pack for several laps
before the leaders slowed their own pace as the the cramping back/hip
muscular system prompted a relaxed tempo and KC was back in business.
However, Liam and Chase were still hungry for the win, and with 10
laps to go, strategic placement intensified as each skater appeared
to jockey for the attack postion on each lap until the bell. It took
the final 10 meters to see who the US National 50K champion would
be...and this time KC edged out Chase, and Liam. It was a very
captivating and exciting chess-like marathon performance.
Now,
there was a second pack of 40-60 year old athletes that were creating
129 laps of drama of their own. F40 Silvia, M60's Chuck Hansell, Ed
Burns.Ken Huss, F50 Kathleen Feinberg, and occassionally Vince, were
exchanging leads and setting up a final speed play of their own. In
the end, Silvia accelerated at the bell lap and gained a 20 meter gap
that no one broached as she secured the US 50K title. Vince won the
US 50K, Chuck followed with silver, and that barely over Ken Huss's
charge. Ed Burns-who will be racing officially in the M70 group next
year took 4th.
M70 Tony
Marchese set a track record for his division, lapping his own group
several times while also occassionally working with his division
rivals. Jum White, a speed skating referee, took silver.
Kathleen
Feinberg, F30 Bridie Farrell, M30 Michael Hubbs, M80 Dick Klein, and
M50 Nathan Feinberg all left the oval as the 2014 US 50K national
champions. Michael,Dick, and Bridie set division track records in
their winning form.
Many
thanks to the Pettit staff, volunteers, Jeff Brand's authoritive
announcing, and Brian and Ernie Kretschmann for their support and
expertise.
Olusegun
Sijuwade
