Fall World Cup Summary

One of my fellow coach's reminded me that the "results speak for themselves." I couldn't agree more. The fall world cups have been a fantastic roller coaster ride of excitement and silence, laughter and tears, crowds roaring and empty seats, fist pumping victories and hands raised in wonder. The highs and lows of short track have been packaged nicely into the first 4 world cups of the season. (Imagine all of that emotion and stress delivered ever so neatly within the 17 days of Olympic competition in 2010 - all except the empty seats of course).

So I've decided to let the results speak. Here's what they have to say...

Jessica Gregg:

Medals

Bronze-500m (SLC), Bronze-Relay (SLC), Bronze-Relay (Vancouver), Bronze-Relay (Nagano)

Additional Highlights

-Set Canadian record in 500m with a time of 43.405 (SLC)

-Ranked 5th in the 500m (B-final) in Nagano

-Ranked 8th in the 500m (semi-finals) in Beijing

-Ranked 9th in the 500m (quarter-finals) in Vancouver

-Was a key member in the success of the women's relay as the starter in all relay finals and participating in all but one of the relay rounds

Jessica Hewitt:

Medals

Bronze-Relay (SLC), Bronze-Relay (Vancouver), Bronze-Relay (Nagano)

Additional Highlights

-World cup rookie

-Ranked 10th in the 1000m (quarter-finals) in SLC

-Anchored the women's relay team to the bronze medal in Vancouver during the Olympic test event, arguably the most stressful environment she's had to deal with so far

Michael Gilday:

Medals

Bronze-Relay (SLC), Silver-1000m (Vancouver), Silver-Relay (Vancouver), Silver-Relay (Beijing)

Additional Highlights

-First individual medal at a world cup came in the 1000m in Vancouver (the distance in which he holds the current world record)

-Ranked 6th in the A-final 1500m in Beijing

-Ranked 8th in the 1000m (4th B-final) in SLC

-Ranked 9th in the 500m (semi-finals) in Beijing

-Ranked 10th in the 1500m (3rd B-final) in SLC

Richard Shoebridge:

Medals

Silver-Relay (Beijing), Gold-Relay (Nagano)

Additional Highlights

-World cup rookie

-Ranked 7th in the 500m (2nd B-final) in Nagano

-Ranked 11th in the 1500m (5th B-final) in Beijing

Ultimately a great set of world cups for the skaters from the west. What I find most exciting however, is that the potential to perform even better is evident. Their abilities and training have been put to the test and now they're gaining the experience that will help them to be even more successful in the future.

JC