PENNSBURG — While the focus of the Olympics has most recently centered on Beijing, thousands of athletes are well into their training for the 2010 Winter Games.
And one of those athletes, 18-year-old Alex Mark of Pennsburg, is hoping Vancouver, Canada, will be the site of his Olympic debut.
Mark, who attended Upper Perkiomen High School as a freshman, is the youngest member of the Wheels on Ice Program (WHIP), designed to crossover America's top talents in inline skating onto the ice. Only 12 skaters from throughout the U.S. were picked for the program, and athletes like Joey Cheek, Derek Parra, and Apolo Anton Ohno are proof the system can yield Olympic hardware.
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Horning makes national team
One of the best inline speed skaters in the nation, Horning left Salisbury for Colorado Springs, Colo., last Friday to train for the 2008 World Roller Speed Skating Championships in Gijon, Spain. Along with the other 23 members of the U.S. world team, she'll be in Colorado for another two weeks, training six-to-eight hours a day before leaving for Spain on Aug. 26.
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Rock Hill skaters excel
Jacob Anderson, 8, Damon Spencer, 10, and Will Irby, 12, set national records in inline speed skating in Lincoln. The three were among a group of 14 at the championships who practice under trainer Donnie Allen of Rock Hill.
Anderson broke the national record for the 1,200-meter primary two mixed -- with teammate Deja Johnson, 7 -- and the 1,200-meter primary two-boy -- with teammate Travis Spencer. Jacob and Damon set another national record on the 1,200-meter juvenile four-boy -- with teammates Aidan Murphy-Booth, 8, and Clay Ellerbrock, 9.
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Anderson broke the national record for the 1,200-meter primary two mixed -- with teammate Deja Johnson, 7 -- and the 1,200-meter primary two-boy -- with teammate Travis Spencer. Jacob and Damon set another national record on the 1,200-meter juvenile four-boy -- with teammates Aidan Murphy-Booth, 8, and Clay Ellerbrock, 9.
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Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Greased lightning
By John Denny
The Clackamas Review, Jul 8, 2008
PORTLAND – Things are looking up for the speed skating team at Oaks Park Roller Rink.
“We’ve moved up from the sixth strongest region in the nation last year to this year we’re the third strongest region,” said Derek Meade, a 38-year-old Milwaukie speed-skating enthusiast who coaches the team.
Meade is a big reason things are looking up for the Oaks Skating Club team. He’s been a part of competitive speed skating since he first took up the sport close to 30 years ago, and he’s got credentials.
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The Clackamas Review, Jul 8, 2008
PORTLAND – Things are looking up for the speed skating team at Oaks Park Roller Rink.
“We’ve moved up from the sixth strongest region in the nation last year to this year we’re the third strongest region,” said Derek Meade, a 38-year-old Milwaukie speed-skating enthusiast who coaches the team.
Meade is a big reason things are looking up for the Oaks Skating Club team. He’s been a part of competitive speed skating since he first took up the sport close to 30 years ago, and he’s got credentials.
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Monday, July 07, 2008
From 'out of nowhere,' Honey Brook speedskater makes his mark
By Tom Brolley
Reading Eagle
Keith Carroll toed the starting line at the first race of the recent Junior Inline Speedskating National Championships, ready to make a quick impression.
In less than 27 seconds, the 17-year-old from Honey Brook did just that, setting a blistering pace in the time trial and breaking the national record in the 300-meter banked track race.
"That race let everyone know that he's the fastest man on the track," said Jeff Foster, Carroll's coach with SOS Racing. "That really set the tone."
Carroll would finish the championships with two national records and four medals - two golds and two silvers - on his way to placing second overall at the meet in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The next step for the Twin Valley senior-to-be is the World Speedskating Championships in September in Spain. Foster said Carroll has the chance to come away with five medals.
After that there may not be much left for Carroll to achieve in inline skating, leaving him with a tough decision.
Carroll aspires to go to the Olympics in 2014, but there's a small problem: Inline speedskating is not an Olympic sport. Carroll will eventually have to decide if he wants to pursue that goal or stick with inline skating.
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Reading Eagle
Keith Carroll toed the starting line at the first race of the recent Junior Inline Speedskating National Championships, ready to make a quick impression.
In less than 27 seconds, the 17-year-old from Honey Brook did just that, setting a blistering pace in the time trial and breaking the national record in the 300-meter banked track race.
"That race let everyone know that he's the fastest man on the track," said Jeff Foster, Carroll's coach with SOS Racing. "That really set the tone."
Carroll would finish the championships with two national records and four medals - two golds and two silvers - on his way to placing second overall at the meet in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The next step for the Twin Valley senior-to-be is the World Speedskating Championships in September in Spain. Foster said Carroll has the chance to come away with five medals.
After that there may not be much left for Carroll to achieve in inline skating, leaving him with a tough decision.
Carroll aspires to go to the Olympics in 2014, but there's a small problem: Inline speedskating is not an Olympic sport. Carroll will eventually have to decide if he wants to pursue that goal or stick with inline skating.
Read More...
Healthy and injury free, Baver has great expectations
By Tom Brolley
Reading Eagle
Before Allison Baver went on to Olympic fame in short track speedskating, she was a local kid terrorizing the competition on inline skates.
The Wilson grad, along with skaters such as Apollo Anton Ohno and Chad Hedrick, is among a growing number of former inliners to have success on ice.
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Reading Eagle
Before Allison Baver went on to Olympic fame in short track speedskating, she was a local kid terrorizing the competition on inline skates.
The Wilson grad, along with skaters such as Apollo Anton Ohno and Chad Hedrick, is among a growing number of former inliners to have success on ice.
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Denham Springs native wins skating race
Debbie Rice of Denham Springs won the women’s division of the American Family Insurance Badger Games Inline Marathon on Sunday in Portage, Wisc.
Rice, 40, finished the 25.5-mile inline-skating race in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 27.3 seconds, more than 5 minutes faster than the runner-up. She stayed with the lead men’s pack until the midpoint of the race.
She finished 15th overall.
The victory in the women’s division, Rice’s second in a National Rollercup race, gives Rice a narrow lead in the NROC master women’s division with 120 points.
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Rice, 40, finished the 25.5-mile inline-skating race in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 27.3 seconds, more than 5 minutes faster than the runner-up. She stayed with the lead men’s pack until the midpoint of the race.
She finished 15th overall.
The victory in the women’s division, Rice’s second in a National Rollercup race, gives Rice a narrow lead in the NROC master women’s division with 120 points.
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Hoffman Estates to host inline skate marathon
Thirteen years ago, as the popularity of inline skating peaked, members of Chicago-based Team Rainbo skating club began cruising the streets of Hoffman Estates.
The village provided an ideal central weekend practice site for a team whose members hailed from as far south as Orland Park and as far north as Lake Geneva, Wis.
Team Rainbo members now hope their old practice site will provide a perfect backdrop for one of skating's largest events.
On July 26, Hoffman Estates will host the second annual Chicagoland Inline Marathon and Half Marathon, featuring men and women of different skill abilities and ages. Mundelein hosted the inaugural marathon last year.
"It's a great opportunity for anybody who likes skating to put on a pair of skates and be around other people that like to put on skates," said Team Rainbo member Greg Major of Oak Park.
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The village provided an ideal central weekend practice site for a team whose members hailed from as far south as Orland Park and as far north as Lake Geneva, Wis.
Team Rainbo members now hope their old practice site will provide a perfect backdrop for one of skating's largest events.
On July 26, Hoffman Estates will host the second annual Chicagoland Inline Marathon and Half Marathon, featuring men and women of different skill abilities and ages. Mundelein hosted the inaugural marathon last year.
"It's a great opportunity for anybody who likes skating to put on a pair of skates and be around other people that like to put on skates," said Team Rainbo member Greg Major of Oak Park.
Read More....
Local inline skaters feel the need for speed
By Joe Habina
Special Correspondent
Having dabbled in competitive inline speed skating, Melanie Fortner did not want her son Matthew to get involved. It would require too big a commitment in time and finances.
But as a 6-year-old soaking in his first competition three years ago, Matthew's “eyes were glued to the floor,” said Melanie, who couldn't resist his pleas for a pair of skates.
In just a short time, Matthew has become a national champion, setting a U.S. record with his female partner in the 1,200-meter mixed-relay race at last year's national championships in Omaha, Neb.
Next Sunday, the Fortners, including family patriarch Mike – all of whom are reigning national titleholders from Concord – will begin competition in the 2008 Indoor Speed Skating National Championships in Lincoln, Neb. Matthew's mixed-relay partner will be Kannapolis 11-year-old Jenna Alexander, skating in her first national competition.
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Special Correspondent
Having dabbled in competitive inline speed skating, Melanie Fortner did not want her son Matthew to get involved. It would require too big a commitment in time and finances.
But as a 6-year-old soaking in his first competition three years ago, Matthew's “eyes were glued to the floor,” said Melanie, who couldn't resist his pleas for a pair of skates.
In just a short time, Matthew has become a national champion, setting a U.S. record with his female partner in the 1,200-meter mixed-relay race at last year's national championships in Omaha, Neb.
Next Sunday, the Fortners, including family patriarch Mike – all of whom are reigning national titleholders from Concord – will begin competition in the 2008 Indoor Speed Skating National Championships in Lincoln, Neb. Matthew's mixed-relay partner will be Kannapolis 11-year-old Jenna Alexander, skating in her first national competition.
Read More...
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Area skaters continue busy summer season
By DEVIN HASSON/Staff Writer
(Created: Friday, June 20, 2008 2:48 AM CDT)
It has been a busy month for a handful of Mesquite-based in-line skaters who have been competing in events all over the region.
On May 24, brothers Joseph Burns, 15, and Spencer Burns, 8, who compete for DFW Speed, each won titles at the South Central Regional Championships in Waco. As a result, both qualified for the 2008 National Speed Skating Championships in Lincoln, Neb., on July 13-17.
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(Created: Friday, June 20, 2008 2:48 AM CDT)
It has been a busy month for a handful of Mesquite-based in-line skaters who have been competing in events all over the region.
On May 24, brothers Joseph Burns, 15, and Spencer Burns, 8, who compete for DFW Speed, each won titles at the South Central Regional Championships in Waco. As a result, both qualified for the 2008 National Speed Skating Championships in Lincoln, Neb., on July 13-17.
Read More...
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