Midland speedskaters qualify for short track Olympic trials Trials September 8-12 in Marquette
Monday, August 24, 2009 at 4:37 p.m.MIDLAND -- The Midland Speed Skating Club is proud to announce that FOUR of it’s members have qualified to compete at the 2010 Olympic Team Trials – Short Track Speedskating, to be held September 8-12 in Marquette, MI.
Ryan Bedford, Barry Winslow and Kevin Geminder have all met the 1000m qualifying standard for men of 1:30.00, while
Kelsey Schiel has met the 1:38.00 standard for women.
Long-time Midland resident Ryan Bedford is hoping to gain a spot in the history books by becoming the first to compete for the U.S in both long and short track at the same Olympics. Bedford currently trains in Salt Lake City with both the short and long track national teams. He earned a gold medal last season in Vienna, Austria at the short track World Championships in the 5,000m relay, and a bronze at the 2009 World Championships in Vancouver, Canada in the long track team pursuit event.
Ryan has been a huge supporter of the Midland Speed Skating Club over the years, making a point to visit club practices when he’s in town and giving tips and encouragement to the younger skaters.
Reached in Utah, Ryan said “People always ask me if I would pick making one of the Olympic teams over another. I tell them, I've been hungry to make the Olympic team in short track for 18 long years. It has been my passion since I started skating at the age of 5 with the Midland Speed Skating club. I am going to bring 100% of my fight to the Olympic trials in Marquette. I want to make everyone from Midland proud for their support they have given me over the years. But, it is my intention to try and make both Olympic teams, long and short track. I want to be the first to accomplish this.”
Barry Winslow, another talented Midland skater, trains year-round at the United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC) in Marquette and attends Northern Michigan University. Winslow skated to the 1500m finals last winter at the U.S. Short Track Championships in St. Louis, landing fifth in a race which included Apolo Anton Ohno.
Winslow states “I am very excited about the fact that the Olympic Trials are just around the corner. I am also very anxious, pumped, and a little nervous. I have been training very hard all year long in Marquette at the USOEC for this event, and I feel like my body is peaked and ready for the race. I am very fortunate because the trials are being held close to home. Midland is about 5 hours from Marquette, so I am very excited to see some family and friends who are coming to watch the action.” He adds, “With friends from Marquette and family from Midland, I am sure to have tons of support in the stands, which always helps me push myself a little harder.”
Although he is now skating at elite levels, Winslow says that “the Midland Speed Skating Club is very special to me. They are my local club and it is where I started my skating career. I first stepped on the ice with them when I was 7 years old and continued to skate there until the age of 16, when I moved to Marquette to skate with the USOEC. I am proud to say that Midland has one of the strongest and largest speed skating clubs in the nation. They have a new skating arena with three sheets of ice and a great staff and coaches.”
Also training this summer at the USOEC are both Kevin Geminder and Kelsey Schiel. Schiel is starting classes at Northern Michigan University this fall and has been accepted into the USOEC residency program for the school year. Regarding the Olympic trials, Schiel says, “I get to accomplish the dream I had ever since I was a little girl. I couldn’t ask for anything more. However, I don’t think it has really set in yet and it probably won’t until I step on the ice September 8th and the gun goes off. I am hoping for the best, and know this is a chance of a lifetime, I mean really how many people can say they competed in the Olympic trials of their favorite sport?”Long-time Midland speedskater Kevin Geminder, who has been training year-round, is excited about his prospects at the trials. “I am really happy to be skating Olympic Trials this time around since I just missed qualifying to skate them last time. I am hoping to make the top 16 in the time trial. It will be tough, but right now I am skating the best I ever have so I definitely think that I have a shot at doing it.”
Finishing as one of the top 16 men or women in the 1,000m time trial held on the first day of the Olympic Trials qualifies skaters to continue to vie for one of five spots on the U.S. short track team. Skaters ranked 17 and below are out of the remaining competition, which includes 500m, 1,000m, and 1,500m races.
Midland Speed Skating Club President Gary Dy
ke commented “It’s really unbelievable that a small town like Midland could be represented by such a large number of competitors at such a prestigious event. It’s a testament to the great support the Midland Speed Skating Club has received over the years from the community and the dedication of the skaters, the coaches, and all of our many volunteers. We wish Kelsey, Kevin, Barry, and Ryan all the best and urge area residents to come to Marquette and join club members in cheering them on in their quest to claim a spot on the Olympic team. We’ll also be cheering on Bay City skaters Morgan Izykowski and Rachel Skrocki, who have frequently trained with our club at practices. Mid-Michigan will be well represented at the Trials!”
In addition to skaters, Midland Speed Skating Club volunteer Paul Perry has accepted a position as announcer for both the Olympic Trials and the short track World Cup slated for November in Marquette. Perry has quickly gained a reputation as one of the sport’s premier announcers, and is also the father of Midland skater Brett Perry, who recently accepted an offer of residency at the USOEC for the fall and will be attending Marquette Senior High School. Brett Perry qualified this summer to compete in the elite Group 1 of U.S. Speedskating’s American Cup series of competitions.
More information on tickets can be found at
www.goldrushskate.com, the official website for both the Olympic trials and the short track World Cup to be held November 12-16 in Marquette.
Those interested in trying speedskating for one month free are invited to the Midland Speed Skating Club’s registration night Tuesday, September 22nd from 6-8 p.m. at the Midland Civic Arena. More information is available at
www.midlandspeedskatingclub.com