Friday, December 21, 2001
Molicki wins second chance
By CAMERON MAXWELL -- Calgary Sun
Calgary's Dustin Molicki has himself a new Canadian record and another spot on the Olympic team.
He beat teammate and fellow Calgarian Steven Elm's 1,500-metre mark yesterday at the Canadian long-track speed skating trials to give himself another medal chance after qualifying in the 5,000m earlier in the week.
While Elm lost his record, he didn't lose everything, coming in second to join Molicki in Salt Lake City to race the 1,500m after some thrilling skating at the Olympic Oval.
"I didn't think I'd go that fast," said Molicki, 26, who is on his way to his first Olympics thanks to his time of one minute, 46.28 seconds, which beat Elm's previous mark of 1:46.89.
"With a lap to go, I knew I was two-hundredths behind the next guys, so I thought I'd just better go for it. But it's amazing what motivation does."
Elm skated in the pair before Molicki, finishing with a time of 1:47.16, with Kevin Marshall coming in third (1:47.44).
Molicki said it helped knowing the time he had to beat.
"It can sometimes work against you but (yesterday) it definitely gave me a little extra boost knowing I was right there."
As for Elm, he laid it all on the line, especially during the last 150 metres, where he pushed as hard as he could to come back and beat Jason Parker, who was leading most of the race.
"My technique was falling apart a little at the end but it was faster than the World Cup here (earlier this month). I thought that was pretty good for me because there's pretty big pressure out there,"said Elm, 26, who trains with Molicki at the Oval and is going to the Games for the second time after competing in Nagano in 1998.
"I had to go hard because Jay was killing me at the beginning -- he really went for it at the beginning and (coming from behind) that's my strength, being a long distance/middle distance guy, and I know I can finish hard."
Parker finished fourth with a 1:47.98 clocking.
In women's action, Cindy Overland will join Kristina Groves and Cindy Klassen in the 1,500m in Salt Lake City after winning the race, which was basically just a formality.
"I was fairly secure of a spot but it wasn't guaranteed but now it's official," said Overland, 25, who competed for Canada in the Nagano Games.
She finished in 2:00.73 to beat Tara Risling (2:01.97) and Nicole Slot (2:02.43).
Qualifying continues this afternoon in the women's 5,000m and men's 10,000m races and Molicki is looking for a third Olympic berth in the 10,000.
2002 Games Long Track Speed Skating Coverage
