The ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating Series 2014/15 debuted today in Salt Lake City (USA) with the Ladies' and Men’s 1000 m and 1500 m events.
Marianne St-Gelais (CAN) and Victor An (RUS) win the first 1000 m of the weekend
Marianne St-Gelais of Canada claimed the win in the first of two Ladies’ 1000 m events this weekend. Minjeong Choi (KOR) earned the second place and Kexin Fan (CHN) settled for third. Marianne St-Gelais took the lead from Choi with less than four laps to go, who had led the race from the start. Kexin Fan dropped from second to third place early in the race, while Ji-Soo Jeon (KOR) spent the entire race at the back, to finish in fourth place.
On the Men’s side, Victor An of Russia claimed the win in the 1000 m event, which saw three leader changes throughout the race. Se Yeong Park (KOR) earned the second place while Sjinkie Knegt (NED) finished third. Patrick Duffy (CAN) settled for fourth place.
Korean skaters dominate the 1500 m
Suk Hee Shim of Korea won the Ladies’ 1500 m ahead of her teammate Alang Kim. Arianna Fontana of Italy earned third place. Suk Hee Shim continues her domination of this distance, as she enters the season as the defending World Cup series winner for the distance.
Korea took two other medals in the Men’s 1500 m: Da Woon Sin finished first and Jung-Su Lee claimed third place. Charles Hamelin of Canada earned second place, after leading the race twice throughout the 13 and half laps.
Racing resumes tomorrow with the Ladies and Men 500 m and the second 1000 m events. The teams advancing in Ladies 3000m Relay final are Korea, China, Canada and Russia; in the Men’s 5000m Relay, Korea, China, Russia and the United States will be competing in the final.