Crystal Lake skater to compete on Junior Women's World Team

USA Roller Sports hosted the 2009 Inline Speed Skating National Championships and World Team tryouts June 28-July 4 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Inline Speed Skating World Team and Junior World Team will represent the United States at the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports Speed Skating World Championships in Haining City, People's Republic of China. Athletes will compete at the World Championships Sept. 16-27.

Crystal Lake Central High School junior Hailey Leech is one of six athletes selected to compete on the Junior Women's World Team when they compete in China.

Hailey will depart for residency at the Olympic Training Center Aug. 22 and return to Crystal Lake Sept. 5. The World Team, ages 18 and older, and Junior World Team, ages 14-17, will depart for China Sept. 9.

The United States Olympic Committee has cut the funding by half for the United States World Inline Team for this event. The budget cut does not affect the Senior World Team, but it looks like it will affect members on the Junior World Team.

USA Rollersports is in negotiations with the USOC to secure the other half of the funding before the departure for the World Championships.

With funding support from USARS only being tentative, Hailey is now responsible for securing funding for her trip to the World Championships and is reaching out to the community for assistance.

Before leaving for residency, she is responsible for raising approximately $4,000. A series of fundraisers are being planned, along with donation cans in the Crystal Lake area.

Any local businesses that would be interested in "hosting" a donation tin for Hailey's World Championship trip should call her at (815) 459-0959.

Hailey also has a portfolio and photo slide show of her training and her inline speed skating journey that would be available to show to any interested service groups or organizations in the McHenry County area.

Inline speed skating is one of the sports that are being considered for inclusion as an Olympic Sport beginning with the 2016 Olympics. The determination on its addition will be announced in late September.