...Okay, so with the ice and all, it's not 'exactly' a
dry run, but you get my drift. This seems like a pretty incredible lineup and a pretty incredible week! Lucky Michiganders!
Link:
webb.nmu.edu/SportsUSOEC/SiteSections/News/News.shtml?articleID=108049&team=&display=short&category=&IsNewsBureauU.S. National Short Track Team Trains in MarquetteJune 18, 2009, by Brianne Novak
MARQUETTE— The United States National Short Track Speedskating team will be training at Northern Michigan University’s Berry Events Center Monday through next Tuesday, June 22-30. The camp is hosted by the United States Olympic Education Center and U.S. Speedskating.
Expected to participate are five-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympic bronze medalist J.P. Kepka and world champion and Olympic gold medalist long track skater Shani Davis; short track Olympians Allison Baver, Kimberly Derrick, and Anthony Lobello, and long track Olympian Charles Ryan Leveille; as well as short track national team members Eduardo Alvarez, Ryan Bedford, J.R. Celski, Alyson Dudek, Lana Gehring, Mary Grace, Travis Jayner, Jordan Malone, Katherine Reutter, Jeffery Simon, Jessica Smith.
Baver, Bedford, Davis, Derrick, Grace, Reutter and Lobello are all former USOEC resident student-athletes.
The training camp previews the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials and ISU Speedskating World Cup to be held in Marquette on Sept. 8-12 and Nov. 12-15, respectively.
Practices during the training camp will be open to the public. Sessions are 8-9:45 a.m. each morning, as well as 2-3:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday (June 22-24), Saturday (June 27) and next Monday (June 29) and 3- 4:30 p.m. Friday (June 26).
Additionally, community members who have purchased tickets for the Olympic Trials or World Cup can participate in the ‘Skate with the Team’ event at 4-5 p.m., Thursday (June 25) by showing their ticket at the door. The Berry Events Center ticket office will be open for ticket purchase 60 minutes prior to and throughout the ‘Skate with the Team’ event. Skate rental will be available at no cost.
The skaters will also be available for autograph signing at Friday’s (June 26) downtown Superior Bike Fest events.
“Having the National Team train here is a great opportunity for the Marquette community,” said Jeff Kleinschmidt, USOEC director. “The open practices allow the public to see what the sport is about and to get to know the athletes before the Olympic Trials and World Cup in Marquette this fall. The ‘Skate with the Team’ for those who have purchased tickets to the fall events is an incredible chance, especially for Upper Peninsula children, to share the ice and shake hands with Olympians.”
In accordance with U.S. Speedskating rules and regulations, no flash photography, filming, videotaping or electronic recording of any kind (including cell phones) is permitted during practice sessions.
Tickets for the Olympic Trials and World Cup events are on sale and can be purchased at the EZ Ticket outlet located in the Superior Dome or online at
www.nmu.edu/tickets. Tickets bought prior to Aug. 1 for the Trials and Oct. 1 for the World Cup receive a 25 percent discount. All-event passes bought in advance also receive a Speedskating Savings Card for discounts at Marquette County businesses.
For more information, go to
www.goldrushskate.com or contact the USOEC at 906- 227-2888 or usoec@nmu.edu.
