Let The Races Begin! Roseville Hosts U.S. Junior National Speedskating Championships

Editor's note: The following press release was submitted by Raymond Larson,communications director for the Midway Speedskating Club:

The top U.S. Junior Long track skaters will gather at the Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval in Roseville starting today (Friday) to compete for berths on the U.S. Junior World Championship team. 

Several Twin Cities-area skaters, including Evan Beyer of Roseville, will be competing.

The U.S. Junior National Championships will take place today through Sunday (Feb. 1-3). The top 10 skaters (5 men, 5 women) will be chosen to represent the U.S. at the World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Collalbo, Italy late next month (Feb. 22-24). .

Several of the athletes competing this weekend will compete in the Olympic Trials next December. Admission to this weekend's skating events is free.

2012 U.S. Junior National Allround Champion Emery Lehman (Oak Park,IL), will return to defend his title against the home-town favorite Steven Hartman (Falcon Heights, MN). 

Also a very serious threat in the Allround competition is Edwin Park (Federal Way, Wa) who balances his freshman classes at Stanford University with his Olympic speed skating aspirations.  Both Hartman and Lehman were members of the 2012 squad, and Lehman is a current competitor on the senior World Cup Circuit.

Also returning to defend his U.S Junior National Sprint title is Andrew Astalos (Grosse Pointe, Mi), but he will have to fend off another home-town favorite in Kyle Ronchak (Arden Hills, Mn), as well his 2012 Junior World teammate, Luke Tweddale (Madison, Wi). 

Locally trained skaters, Andrew Turner (St. Paul, Mn), Chris Windman (Purdys, NY), Connor Theisen (Shoreview, Mn), Conor Kennedy (North Oaks, Mn), and Evan Beyer (Roseville, Mn) will hope to upset the favorites on their home ice.  

On the women’s side, three-time Junior World team member Jerica Tandiman (West Jordan, Ut) hopes to defend her 2012 Junior National Sprint title, while 2012 Junior World team member Jaclyn Rowe (Whitewater, Wi) hopes to keep her edge on the competition in the longer distances.  Rising star Sarah Warren (Willowbrook, Il) will content for the U.S. Junior Sprint title. 

Also hoping to earn berths on the U.S. Junior team are Clare Jeong (Tacoma, Wa), Jacquelyn Bernico (Stone Bank, Wi), Kendall Pumphrey (San Clemente, Ca), Sara Rehklau (Osseo, Mi), Shelby Comeau (Mequon, Wi), and Piper Meisinger (Milwaukee, Wi).

 The Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval is home to Midway Speed Skating Club .  The club has operated since 1946 and is one of the premier speed skating clubs in the country.  Many young skaters from Midway will compete this weekend in hopes of earning top honors in their respective age brackets. 

The competition will also feature skaters from Plymouth Wayzata Speed Skating Club , whose members also train at the Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval.

The racing schedule

• Racing begins Friday, Feb. 1 at 12:55 pm with the men’s and women’s 500m, women’s and Jr. C 1500m.  Races are scheduled to conclude around 5pm after the completion of the Jr. A and B men’s 3000m. 

• Saturday’s races will begin at 8:55 a.m. and end at noon, rounding out the Allround competition with the ladies 1000m and 3000m and the men’s 1500m and 5000m.

• Sunday’s races will be held from 8:55 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and will feature the 500m and 1000m sprint distances.  Selection of the 2013 U.S. Junior World Speed Skating team will follow the completion of Sunday’s events. 

Admission to all events is free and spectators of all ages are welcome. 

Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) will be providing emergency personnel and establishing emergency protocols to ensure safety in case of emergency for all athletes competing at the 2013 U.S. Junior National Speedskating Championships.

For more information contact Meet Director Jean Eide at jeaneide@comcast.net

The Midway Speedskating Club is a non-profit, parent-run, organization committed to the development of young skaters in the sport of Speedskating. The club primarily focuses on skaters 18 years and younger, although older skaters who have grown with the club are also coached. In addition, the Club helps sponsor several out-of-town national-level and olympic-level skaters who have grown with the Club. For more information follow Midway on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and visit www.midwayspeedskating.org.