Post by Lindsey on May 30, 2007 13:16:37 GMT -5
SOOO happy to see this on OZ!!! 
www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18358471&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=472541&rfi=6
(cut out some of the extra stuff)
Ohno likely to come to Midland for American Cup I speedskating event
By Dan Chalk
05/18/2007
Apolo Anton Ohno is an Olympic speed skating gold medalist and a finalist on Dancing with the Stars. And in late September, there's a good chance he'll be in Midland.
...It will take place Sept. 29-30 at the Midland Civic Arena.
"There's a 99 percent certainty that almost every (major) skater is going to be there," said American Cup I meet director Beth Bedford of the MSSC, who is also the U.S. Speedskating treasurer. "For the 2007-08 season, in order to skate in the World Cup, you have to skate in our meet. And this meet also qualifies people to skate in the World Championship qualifier.
Others expected to compete at American Cup I are Midland's Ryan Bedford and Barry Winslow and Bay City Olympic medalist Alex Izykowski. Top female competitors may include Allison Baver, Kimberly Derrick, and Hyo-Jung "Halie" Kim.
The MSSC hosted American Cup II last November, which was also a qualifier for the World Cup. But Ohno did not compete, as he took the season off. Bedford said that this year's meet should draw more spectators than last year's because of the presence of Ohno and others.
"If we get a few more of those skaters who didn't skate last year, like Apolo and Halie Kim, I believe we're going to have a lot more people coming to watch," she said. "There'll be people coming from all parts of the country, knowing that (Ohno and others) are only going to skate in the U.S. once or twice a year."
The American Cup I is the only one of the four American Cups this coming season that will include qualifying for the World Cup.
Go to midlandspeedskatingclub.com around the middle of June for details on ordering tickets to American Cup I.
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www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070530/SPORTS18/705300390/1048
(again, cut out other stuff that's not important)
Dancing star could help event shine
May 30, 2007
BY JO-ANN BARNAS
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Apolo Anton Ohno didn't commit to a timetable, but Beth Bedford had reason to be optimistic when the five-time Olympic medalist announced last week -- after winning ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" -- that he intends to compete in short-track speed skating through the 2010 Winter Games.
Bedford is the meet director of U.S. Speedskating's American Cup I slated for Sept. 29-30 at the Midland Civic Arena. The competition doubles in importance this year: The top six men and women make the U.S. World Cup team for the first part of the international season and also gain berths into the U.S. Championships in December in Salt Lake City.
A second American Cup competition will be in November at an undetermined location. That event will determine the next 14 men and women qualifiers for nationals.
"Nobody is confirmed yet," Bedford said. "But it would be really nice if he came and skated in our meet -- one, for the U.S. national team, and, second, for promotion and development of our sport.
"Kids look up to him. It would really be good. And now that he's a TV star, it's a bonus."
www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18358471&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=472541&rfi=6
(cut out some of the extra stuff)
Ohno likely to come to Midland for American Cup I speedskating event
By Dan Chalk
05/18/2007
Apolo Anton Ohno is an Olympic speed skating gold medalist and a finalist on Dancing with the Stars. And in late September, there's a good chance he'll be in Midland.
...It will take place Sept. 29-30 at the Midland Civic Arena.
"There's a 99 percent certainty that almost every (major) skater is going to be there," said American Cup I meet director Beth Bedford of the MSSC, who is also the U.S. Speedskating treasurer. "For the 2007-08 season, in order to skate in the World Cup, you have to skate in our meet. And this meet also qualifies people to skate in the World Championship qualifier.
Others expected to compete at American Cup I are Midland's Ryan Bedford and Barry Winslow and Bay City Olympic medalist Alex Izykowski. Top female competitors may include Allison Baver, Kimberly Derrick, and Hyo-Jung "Halie" Kim.
The MSSC hosted American Cup II last November, which was also a qualifier for the World Cup. But Ohno did not compete, as he took the season off. Bedford said that this year's meet should draw more spectators than last year's because of the presence of Ohno and others.
"If we get a few more of those skaters who didn't skate last year, like Apolo and Halie Kim, I believe we're going to have a lot more people coming to watch," she said. "There'll be people coming from all parts of the country, knowing that (Ohno and others) are only going to skate in the U.S. once or twice a year."
The American Cup I is the only one of the four American Cups this coming season that will include qualifying for the World Cup.
Go to midlandspeedskatingclub.com around the middle of June for details on ordering tickets to American Cup I.
----------------------------------
www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070530/SPORTS18/705300390/1048
(again, cut out other stuff that's not important)
Dancing star could help event shine
May 30, 2007
BY JO-ANN BARNAS
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Apolo Anton Ohno didn't commit to a timetable, but Beth Bedford had reason to be optimistic when the five-time Olympic medalist announced last week -- after winning ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" -- that he intends to compete in short-track speed skating through the 2010 Winter Games.
Bedford is the meet director of U.S. Speedskating's American Cup I slated for Sept. 29-30 at the Midland Civic Arena. The competition doubles in importance this year: The top six men and women make the U.S. World Cup team for the first part of the international season and also gain berths into the U.S. Championships in December in Salt Lake City.
A second American Cup competition will be in November at an undetermined location. That event will determine the next 14 men and women qualifiers for nationals.
"Nobody is confirmed yet," Bedford said. "But it would be really nice if he came and skated in our meet -- one, for the U.S. national team, and, second, for promotion and development of our sport.
"Kids look up to him. It would really be good. And now that he's a TV star, it's a bonus."
