Area speed skaters to travel to China/Norway

The Glen Ellyn Speed Skating Club showed their talents at the U.S. Long Track Championships Jan. 8-10 at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Having 11 of the 50 skaters from across the United States entered in the junior division representing Glen Ellyn, was already an impressive feat in itself.

Glen Ellyn skaters then went on to earn four of the seven Junior World Team spots and the one Youth Olympic Games Team spot by the competition's end with an powerful display of speed, endurance and depth.

This competition was used to select the team that will represent the USA at the Junior World Long Track Championships in Changchun, China March 11-13. It also was used to select the U.S. representative to the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Hamar, Norway Feb. 12-21.

The Glen Ellyn skaters who made the Junior World Team were: Austin Kleba, 16, (Campton Hills), Hannah Bosman, 18, (Oak Brook), Brandon Molenda, 17, (Aurora), and, Ethan Cepuran, 15,(Glen Ellyn).

Kleba was also the qualifier to represent the USA in Hamar at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Kleba won all three individual distances he entered (the 500 meters, 1000m, and 1500m). Bosman won the ladies All Around title with firsts in the 500, 1000, 1500, and 3000. Molenda placed 2nd in the 500 to secure his spot on the team and also placed 4th in the 1000 and 5th in the 1500. Cepuran placed 3rd in the 5000 and took 3rd in the All Around for the men. Kleba, Bosman, and, Cepuran will be making their Junior World Team debut. Molenda is making his third appearance.

The other Junior World Team members are: David Skoda, 17, (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.); Isaiah Oliver, 18, (Puget Sound, Washington); and, Hannah Kim, 19, (Puget Sound, Washington).

Eric Cepuran, who began speed skating with Glen Ellyn and competed for the USA internationally before retiring and taking up coaching for the Glen Ellyn Club and then assuming the role of Long Track Coach at the ASE Program at the Pettit Center, was named as the coach for both the Junior World Team and the Winter Youth Olympic Games teams and will be traveling to Hamar and Changchun in that capacity.

Michael Koenig, 18, (Glen Ellyn) narrowly missed being one of the five men's team members, with a fourth in the 5000 placing him in sixth position overall, or next in line to go. Koenig was also on pace to take third in the All Around until an unfortunate disqualification in the 1500.

Koenig's 6th place ranking goes with his 6th overall at last month's US Junior Short Track Championships in Midland, MI. Such a high dual placement is rare and is the highest since another skater from Illinois, 4-time Olympian, World Champion, and, world record holder Shani Davis, made both the long and short track Junior World Teams over 15 years ago.

Other Juniors from Glen Ellyn and their best performances are:

Jon Aquino, 14, (Carol Stream, IL) - 4th overall in the Jr C age group

Nathan Lee, 13, (Northbrook, IL) - 5th overall in the Jr C age group

Jan Erik Naess, 17, (Clarendon Hills, IL) - 6th overall in the All Around

Evan Flaherty, 15, (Orland Park, IL) - 22nd in the 1500m

Brianne Molenda, 13, (Aurora, IL) - 3rd in the Jr C 3000m and 6th in the Jr C All Around

Isabella Main, 13, (Glen Ellyn, IL) - 4th in the Jr C 3000m and 5th in the Jr C All Around

Also representing Glen Ellyn in the Senior Championships was former 3-time Junior World Team and Youth Olympic Game Team member Sarah Warren (Willowbrook, IL) who is splitting her time between speedskating and playing soccer at University of Illinois. Warren finished 7th in the senior women's 500m and 10th in the 1000m.

Mitch Whitmore, who also began his speed skating career with the Glen Ellyn Club, won the senior men's 500m and placed 3rd in the 1000m.

Detailed results can be found here: http://www.speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=2&e=15224