U.S. long-track speedskating team optimistic, confident

Optimism abounds with the U.S. long-track team, and not just because of the dominance of Shani Davis. The Americans predictably but validly projected an air of confidence heading into the opening 5,000-meter men’s race Saturday, with the men seeking a collection of podium finishes and the women seeking to exceed expectations.

“This is probably one of our strongest teams,” said four-time Olympian Jen Rodriguez, who will compete in three distances (500, 1,000, 1,500) and team pursuit.

“The boys have been strong since Salt Lake. And I think our girls, we actually have a pretty good team -- better than we did in Torino. So I’m kind of curious to see what’s going to happen. There are a lot of up-and-comers, and at the Olympics, strange things happen. We’ll see who’s going to be surprising.”

For the men, the depth of talent manifests immediately. There is the presence of Davis in the 5,000 on Saturday . . . but Chad Hedrick was the gold medalist in the event in 2006. And Trevor Marsciano was a bronze medalist in the 5,000 in the World Single Distance Championships in 2009.

Marsciano also won the 1,000-meter race at the World Single Distance Championships. Tucker Fredricks will contend to medal in the 500-meter sprints on Monday. Hedrick won bronze in Turin in the 1,500. It’s a long, decorated list.

“Every distance we have a guy or a bunch of guys that can medal,” said Nick Pearson, who will compete in the 500 and 1,000. “I like to say that in the 1,000 and the [1,500], if you made the team you have a chance of medaling. So it’s pretty exciting to know that. Every distance, there’s an American up there that everybody knows is a threat.”

Indeed, Hedrick’s approach to the 5,000 gives little to overwhelmingly presumptive favorite Sven Kramer of the Netherlands.

“I’m going to have to skate the race very aggressively,” he said. “I didn’t come here to get eighth place. I know I’m not the favorite, but I’m going to give myself a chance. I’m not going to go out there and skate conservatively. It’s either going to be beautiful, or it’s going to be real ugly.”

The U.S. women, as Rodriguez suggested, don’t quite have the resumes of the men’s side and probably need youth to be served in order to make a significant impact.

Twenty-year-old Heather Richardson has potential, going from inline skater to Olympian in two years, and a breakout effort is possible if not entirely expected. Rebekah Bradford, 26, clocked the fastest 1,000 time at the U.S championships. Nancy Swider-Peltz, 23, won the 3,000 at that event.

“You never know, but especially the girls, they tend to rise to the occasion,” Rodriguez said. “They do well under pressure. I don’t know anybody who buckles under the pressure. So I think our girls are going to do well, to the best of their ability. And I hope maybe some surprises in there. There’s definitely the potential.”

bchamilton@tribune.com