Ohno Is Perfect in Speedskating Trials

Apolo Anton Ohno can relax now.

The 19-year-old star of American short-track speedskating remained perfect in the Olympic trials, winning two more races Thursday at Kearns, Utah, and ensuring he will compete in all events at the Salt Lake Games.

Ohno won the four-lap time trial in 37.568 seconds. That locked up a spot in the 500 meters, the only race still in question going into the day.

A couple of hours later, Ohno returned to the ice to take another victory in the 1,500, the same race in which he set a world record last weekend on the Olympic Oval.

Ohno is six for six in the trials, giving him a staggering 5,921 points with two days left. The Seattle native has an insurmountable lead over his closest competitor, Rusty Smith, who is 2,728 points behind.

On the women’s side, Erin Porter, Amy Peterson and Julie Goskowicz are dueling for the top spot.

Porter, fifth at the beginning of the day, shot to the lead with 2,755.50 points after winning the 1,500 and taking second in the time trial. Peterson is second with 2,527.50 points, winning the time trial but getting disqualified in the 1,500 for impeding a skater. Goskowicz was second in the 1,500 and is third overall with 2,393 points.

Six skaters qualify for the women’s team.

*

Headfirst and flat on his belly, Jim Shea slid into Olympic history.

Shea finished second at a World Cup skeleton meet at Lake Placid, N.Y., to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and make his family the first to produce three generations of American Olympians.

“I’m really excited to have this tradition,” Shea said. “To be able to follow in my grandfather’s and my father’s footsteps is a great honor.”

Shea’s grandfather, Jack, was a double gold medalist in speedskating at the 1932 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, and his father, Jim, represented the United States at the 1964 Winter Games in Innsbruck in three skiing events.

Gregor Stahli of Switzerland remained unbeaten in four races, winning in 56.85 seconds. Shea finished in 57.03 to edge U.S. teammate Chris Soule, of Trumbull, Conn. Soule’s podium finish also qualified him for the Olympic team.

*

Hermann Maier was given the go-ahead to ski today, his first time on the slopes since his motorcycle accident last summer.

Maier is scheduled to make a slow run down the Achterjet course in his home town of Flachau, Austria, site of this season’s World Cup finals.

The 28-year-old tried cross-country skiing on Monday and Tuesday as an initial test.

“He’ll be skiing down like a tourist on Alpine skis--not Herminator-like,” his agent, Knut Okresek, said.