The men’s 5000 meters relay team consisting of Apolo Ohno (Seattle, WA), Rusty Smith (Long Beach, CA), J.P. Kepka (St. Louis, MO) and Alex Izykowski (Bay City, MI) finished first the final event, along with Korea, China and Canada. All four countries ‘won’ the event after it was canceled due to poor ice conditions. Because the U.S. had the fastest relay time, it was granted the maximum points. They skated a 6:58.605 in Saturday’s semifinals.

In the men’s 1000 meters, Smith was eliminated in his heat after finishing third in 1:32.305. Smith finished 22nd overall in the distance. Kepka and Ohno advanced to the finals where Kepka won the silver medal in 1:28.761 and Ohno finished fourth in 1:28.938.

Ohno and Kepka skated the 3000 meters with Ohno winning the bronze in 5:07.698 and Kepka finishing in seventh.

In the ladies’ 1000 meters, Kristen Biondo (Broadview Heights, OH) finished third in her heat in 1:35.798 and was unable to advance to the quarterfinals. Hyo-Jung Kim (Fullerton, CA) finished third in her quarterfinal heat in 1:33.018, leaving Allison Baver (Sinking Springs, PA) as the lone U.S. skater advancing to the semifinals. Baver finished fourth in her heat in 1:34.275. Baver, Kim and Biondo finished the 1000 meters overall in eighth, 10th and 18th place, respectively.

Baver was able to enjoy a trip atop the medal podium with a bronze medal finish in the 3000 meters with her finish time of 5:25.504.

The U.S. ladies’ 3000 meters relay team of Baver, Kim, Biondo and Caroline Hallisey (Natick, MA) received a DNF after Baver took a spill during the race.

The U.S. men completed the World Cup in the top 10 ranking with Kepka leading the way with a fourth place ranking, Ohno right behind him in sixth place and Smith in eighth.

For the U.S. ladies, Baver was sixth overall with Kim finishing 12th.

Although no final announcement can be made until all results are tallied, approved and finalized by the International Skating Union, it is evident that the U.S. has secured two spots each for both the men’s and ladies’ teams in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in the 500 meters, 1000 meters and 1500 meters. It is also evident that both men and ladies also have a spot in the relay event at the Olympic Games.

Olympic Games 500, 1000, 1500 meters Qualifications:
The U.S. men’s and ladies’ teams can qualify up to two spots each for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in each the 500, 1000 and 1500 meters if they have two athletes in the top 32 in each individual distance after both World Cup 3 (Bormio, Italy: November 11-13) and World Cup 4 (The Hague, Netherlands: Nov. 18-20).

The U.S. men’s and ladies’ teams can qualify up to three spots each for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in each the 500, 1000 and 1500 meters if they have three athletes in the top eight after both World Cups’ points are added.

The maximum number of spots the U.S. can have in each the 500, 1000 and 1500 meters is three for men and three for ladies.

Olympic Games Relay Qualifications:
The maximum number of countries allowed to skate in the relay event at the Olympic Games is eight and the host country (Italy) is automatically given one of those spots.

The U.S. men’s and ladies’ teams can qualify a relay team respectively if they are in the top eight after the points from both World Cups 3 and 4 are added together.

500 meters U.S. ladies:
WC3: 8, 15, 17 WC4: 17, 31, 40

500 meters U.S. men:
WC3: 3, 37, 62 WC4: 3, 10, 13

1000 meters U.S. ladies:
WC3: 4, 9, 28 WC4: 8, 10, 18

1000 meters U.S. men:
WC3: 5, 17, 39 WC4: 2, 4, 22

1500 meters U.S. ladies:
WC3: 8, 13, 29 WC4:5, 9, 18

1500 meters U.S. men:
WC3: 1, 16, 42 WC4: 9, 10, 31

3000 meters relay U.S. ladies
WC3: 6 WC4: 4

5000 meters relay: U.S. men
WC3: 3 WC4: 1

Sunday’s Results:

Ladies’ 1000 meters:
1. Y. Yang CHN 1:35.570; 2. M. Wang CHN 1:35.658; 3. C. Byun KOR 1:35.725; 4. X. Cheng CHN 1:35.726

Americans: 8. A. Baver; 10. H. Kim; 18. K. Biondo

Ladies’ 3000 meters:
1. S. Jin KOR 5:24.321; 2. E. Choi KOR 5:24.544; 3. A. Baver USA 5:25.504; 4. E. Radanova BUL 5:27.643; 5. Y. Yang CHN 5:31.243; 6. M. Wang CHN 5:46.829

Ladies’ 3000 meters relay:
1. CAN 4:23.131; 2. GER 4:28.432; 3. KOR DQ; 4. USA DNF

Men’s 1000 meters:
1. J. Li CHN 1:28.660; 2. J. Kepka USA 1:28.761; 3. H. Ahn KOR 1:28.889; 4. A. Ohno USA 1:28.938; 5. H. Lee KOR 1:29.789

Americans: 22. R. Smith

Men’s 3000 meters:
1. H. Lee KOR 4:59.114; 2. Y. Li CHN 5:01.032; 3. A. Ohno USA 507.698; 4. H. Ahn KOR 5:07.822; 5. N. Rodigari ITA 5:07.853; 6. J. Li CHN 5:08.465; 7. J. Kepka 5:11.937

Men’s 5000 meters relay:
1. USA; 1. KOR; 1. CHN; 1. CAN

World Cup 4 Men’s Overall: Competition Ranking:
1. H. Ahn KOR; 2. J. Li CHN; 3. H. Lee KOR; 4. J. Kepka USA; 5. Y. Li CHN; 6. A. Ohno USA; 7. N. Rodigari; 8. R. Smith; 9. S. Terao JPN; 10. P. Darazs HUN

World Cup 4 Ladies’ Overall: Competition Ranking:
1. M. Wang CHN; 2. S. Jin KOR; 3. Y. Yang CHN; 4. E. Radanova BUL; 5. E. Choi KOR; 6. A. Baver USA; 7. M. Capurso ITA; 8. A. Fontana ITA; 9. S. Lindsay GBR; 10. E. Huszar HUN

Americans: 12. H. Kim