December 12, 2005:
NBC will air a daily 'Olympic Zone' program for Torino Games

NBC Olympics and its affiliated stations will partner to create "Olympic Zone," a 30-minute show that will air in the hour prior to NBC's primetime coverage throughout the Torino Games, Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics announced today. "Olympic Zone" is designed to localize and extend the Olympic experience for viewers across the United States.

"Olympic Zone" will preview each night's primetime Olympic coverage, provide richer, deeper content about the athletes and the goings on in Torino and allow NBC stations to provide more extensive coverage of hometown athletes and storylines.

"Olympic Zone" will debut on Wednesday, Feb. 8, two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, and air every night during the games excluding Sundays. More info

Olympic Trials Day 1:

You can subscribe to MediaZone to watch the races live online. Details are here.

Also, USSpeedskating.org will have real-time results available on their site during the racing!

Get full results here: RTReport

Men's 1000m TT's
The men's time trials aren't quite over yet. Apolo and Jordan had an exciting TT. Apolo skated very strong and looked to be close to lapping Jordan at the end of their race and I kind of winced knowing Jordan was skating on an injured ankle... but he's in 8th place overall and will therefore make the cut of the top 16 to keep skating. True grit!

J.P. Kepka fell after just a couple laps in his time trial, paired with Shani Davis. J.P. will got a reskate and came in 4th! Way to go J.P.!

And of course we cannot forget our favorite here at UssDerekgray, our man "D!" He came in 15th just two spots away from disqualifying to move on. Time for motivation: Come on Derek, you can do it!

Top 16 make the cut to skate for a spot on the Olympic team:
1 Ohno, Apolo 1:25.114 17.00
2 Izykowski, Alex 1:27.427 10.50
3 Smith, Rusty 1:27.539 6.50
4 Kepka, J.P. 1:27.887 4.00
5 Lobello, Anthony 1:28.078 2.50
6 Jayner, Travis 1:28.347 1.50
7 Davis, Shani 1:28.505 1.00
8 Marsicano, Trevor 1:29.241 0.50
9 Malone, Jordan 1:29.448 0.00
10 Kooreman, Michael 1:29.736 0.00
11 Toth, Misi 1:29.838 0.00
12 Bedford, Ryan 1:30.245 0.00
13 Lee, Eric 1:30.299 0.00
14 Lindsey, Joey 1:30.880 0.00
15 Gray, Derek 1:31.051 0.00
16 Weaver, Chris 1:31.149 0.00

Ladies' 1000m time trials

Congratulations to Hyo-jung Kim on a new American record of 1:32.155 in the 1000m time trial.

Top 16 make the cut to skate for a spot on the Olympic team:
1 Kim, Hyo Jung 1:32.155 17.00
2 Baver, Allison 1:32.330 10.50
3 Derrick, Kimberly 1:35.096 6.50
4 Biondo, Kristen 1:35.101 4.00
5 Garcia, Maria 1:35.774 2.50
6 Hallisey, Caroline 1:36.316 1.50
7 Fling, Kira 1:36.500 1.00
8 Koenig, M. Tina 1:37.063 0.50
9 Wilson, Carly 1:37.238 0.00
10 Peterson, Amy 1:37.727 0.00
11 Farrell, Brigid 1:38.034 0.00
12 Wheeler, Jade 1:38.209 0.00
13 Lang, Sarah 1:38.723 0.00
14 Wilkins, Cherise 1:38.820 0.00
15 Milan, Sophia 1:38.862 0.00
16 Jaworski, Lezleigh 1:39.065 0.00

December 9, 2005:

Initial athlete list for Marquette
Here is a preliminary list from NMU of the athletes registered for the 2006 U.S. Short Track Championships (ie, the Olympic team trials!). This can still change as athlete registration is open through Sunday, December 11.

WOMEN
Alison Baver
Kristen Biondo
Kimberly Derrick
Brigid Farrell
Kira Fling
Maria Garcia
Caroline Hallisey
Leziegh Jaworski
Hyo Jung Kim
Mary “Tina” Koenig
Sarah Lang
Sophia Milan
Amy Peterson
Katherine Reutter
Jade Wheeler
Cherise Wilkins
Carly Wilson

Men
Thomas Anderson
Ryan Bedford
Shani Davis
Nick Frank
Derek Gray
Alex Izykowski
Travis Jayner
Alex Johnson
J.P. Kepka
Levi Kirkpatrick
Michael Kooreman
Eric Lee
Joey Lindsey
Anthony Lobello
Jordan Malone
Trevor Marsicano
Apolo Anton Ohno
Jeffrey Simon
Rusty Smith
Misi Toth
Chris Weaver
Barry Winslow

December 8, 2005:

New York Times | Short-Track Speedskaters Face Trials to Make Team
*may require free registration

When the American short-track speedskaters converge on a small rink in Marquette, Mich., next week, they will race in what has become increasingly rare in winter sports: a true Olympic trials.

The results of those races will determine the 2006 Olympic team, which means that if Apolo Ohno has a few bad days, all his charm and marketability will not get him to Turin without a ticket. And while such trials are the norm for summer sports - swimming and track and field being the most hotly contested - most winter sports organizations have opted for a gentler, less dramatic approach.

USA Today| Aspiring Olympians set to take key tests

Nike announces new short track Swift Suit
Big news today:

Nike Swift Innovation Extends to USA Short Track
The Nike Swift Short Track Speedskating Skin will be found on national teams from The Netherlands, China, United States and South Korea during the 2005-2006 season, and each features strong country color designs and iconography.

December 7, 2005:

Marquette is anticipating next week's Olympic trials with dollar $igns in its eyes: A GREEN ‘STORM’ PREDICTED FOR MARQUETTE