Southern California Speed Skaters Shine in U.S. and International Championships

 

Young athletes who train with the Southern California Speed Skating Association, a longtime LA84 Foundation grant recipient, won national, North American and world championships, in March, in short track speed skating.

 

The Foundation has made 13 grants to SCSSA since 1989, totaling $660,816.

SCSSA skaters won four individual titles at the U.S. National Short Track Championships, in Milwaukee, Wisc. March 7-9. Sarah Chen, 12, took the midget ladies championship, while her younger sister, Jacqueline Chen, won the pony ladies division. Skylar McCormick, 16, was first in the junior ladies. Kirsten Todd, 19, was the intermediate ladies champion. In the juvenile men's category, Austin Pumphrey finished fifth, followed by Ji Won Jeong in ninth place.

A week later, in Milwaukee, at the North American Short Track Championships, Sarah Chen won the juvenile ladies division. Jonny Sermeno, 15, won three gold medals and was crowned junior men's champion. Kyle Uyehara, 17, captured the intermediate men's North American championship, with teammate, Walter Rusk in second place. In relay competition, Chen combined with Southern California teammates Todd, McCormick and Kendall Pumphrey, 12, to win the 3000-meter ladies relay.

Other results for SCSSA skaters at the North American Championship included a third-place finish by Pumphrey in the overall juvenile ladies standings. Todd, racing in the senior ladies division, took fourth overall. Jacqueline Chen was fifth in midget ladies. McCormick took fifth in intermediate ladies. Joey Lindsey finished in fifth place, competing in the senior men's category. Austin Pumphrey placed twelfth in the junior men's standings.

At the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships, in Harbin, China, March 15-16, the United States men's team won its first team world title. The championship was decided by the final event, the 5000-meter relay, won by Team USA. The U.S. relay team included three Southern California skaters - Jordan Malone, Jeff Simon and Ryan Leveille.

"All of our skaters have benefited from the LA84 Foundation's support," said Sue Perles, who with her colleague Robert Ahlke, serves as the coordinator of SCSSA's youth program. "The grants have been an integral part of our kids' success."

Two-time Olympic medalist (2002, 2006), Rusty Smith, and his 2006 Olympic teammate, Maria Garcia, are alumni of the SCSSA youth program. Smith is now coach in the program.

Speed Skating Photos