Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Daily Olympic Reviews, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ice Hockey, Luge, Olympics, Short Track Speed Skating, Skeleton, Sochi 2014, Speed Skating

February 13th – Sochi 2014 – Daily Review

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If you were waiting for the US to break out and make a move in the medal count then perhaps Thursday was your day… or perhaps a single event on Thursday was your event. The men’s ski slopestyle cross took the US from nine medals to 12 as the US swept the medals and headlined a good day for the US.

Biathlon

Events:

  • Men’s individual 20 km

Thursday was the men’s 20 km individual event at 9 AM. The first American to start was Tim Burke. Burke got off to a good start as he was 17th after 8 km and a round of shooting. He took a big hit with two missed targets in round two and fell into the 40s. He recovered his position some before two more missed targets in the final round left him with a 44th place finish. Next up was Lowell Bailey. Bailey combined a strong skiing performance with just one missed target to consistently be in the top 20 at checkpoints and eventually move into the top ten and finish 8th, the best ever finish by a US man. Leif Nordgren was in the top 40 through 12 km but a disastrous third round of shooting where he missed all five targets left him well behind the pack and he finished 83rd. Finally Russell Currier missed two targets on each of the first two rounds of shooting as he plummeted to 85th out of 88. He roared back however and didn’t miss another target as he ended up in 50th place.

Results Summarized:

  • Leif Nordgren – Finished 83rd in 58:47.6, 9:15.9 behind the leader. Missed six targets.
  • Russell Currier – Finished 50th in 55:07.5, 5:35.8 behind the leader. Missed four targets.
  • Tim Burke – Finished 44th in 54:21.2, 4:49.5 behind the leader. Missed four targets.
  • Lowell Bailey – Finished 8th in 50:57.4, 1:25.7 behind the leader. Missed one target.

Cross-Country Skiing

Events:

  • Women’s 10km Classic

The women’s 10km classic event uses a staggered start and Sophie Caldwell was the first American to go. Caldwell was in 29th after 2.2km and her standing was pretty consistent from there as she ended up in 32nd. Holly Brooks was next up and was 28th after 2.2km. She slipped back as well finishing 35th.Sadie Bjornsen got off to a better start in 16th at the 2.2km mark. She ended up 18th. Finally Ida Sargent was 40th after 2.2 km but moved up to 34th before the finish.

Results Summarized:

  • Holly Brooks – Finished 35th in 31:19.1, 3:01.3 behind the winner
  • Ida Sargent – Finished 34th in 31:15.1, 2:57.3 behind the winner.
  • Sophie Caldwell – Finished 32nd in 31:11.4, 2:53.6 behind the winner.
  • Sadie Bjornsen – Finished 18th in 29:59.7, 1:41.9 behind the winner.

Curling

Events:

  • Men’s Round Robin – USA vs. Great Britain
  • Women’s Round Robin – USA vs. Japan

The US got off to a slow start on Thursday as Great Britain stole one on the 1st end and two on the third end as they got out to the 3-0 lead. The US never was able to get more than a single point in an end and lost 5-3 to fall to 1-3. They’ll face Germany as 12 AM ET Friday and Russia at 10 AM ET on Friday.

[table]Teams, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Total
Great Britain, 1, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, X, 5
United States, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, X, 3[/table]

After starting the Olympics 0-4 the US finally played a really good curling match and knocked off a previously 2-1 Japan 8-6. The US had their biggest moment in end four when they stole two and that made all the difference really. They next face Denmark at 5 AM ET tomorrow.

[table]Teams, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Total
Japan, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 6
United States, 1, 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 0, 2, 0, 1, 8[/table]

Results Summarized:

  • US Women – Beat Japan 7-6. Face Denmark at 5 AM ET tomorrow.
  • US Men – Lost to Great Britain 5-3. Face Germany as 12 AM ET Friday and Russia at 10 AM ET on Friday.

Figure Skating

Events:

  • Men’s Short Program

Jeremy Abbott looked to rebound from a poor short program performance in the team event but found more struggles on Thursday. He took a hard fall early on his quad and took a good 10-15 seconds before he got back up off the ice. Once he got back up his performance was better but the damage was done and he finished 15th with a 72.58. Jeremy Brown on the other hand put together a very clean program and scored an 86.00 to place 6th and stay in medal contention.

Results Summarized:

  • Jeremy Abbott – Scored a 72.58, 16th best in short program.
  • Jason Brown – Scored a 86.00, 6th best in short program.

Freestyle Skiing

Events:

  • Men’s Ski Slopestyle Qualification
  • *Men’s Ski Slopestyle Final

The US did not get off a good start in the ski slopestyle competition when Nick Goepper went for the US. Goepper only managed a 14.80 on his run and the next American to go, Bobby Brown, was even worse with a 3.40. They would find themselves 26th and 31st after the first run. Things went better for Gus Kenworthy who scored an 86.40 and was fourth on the first run and Joss Christensen who put up a super 91.00 on his first run. On run two Goepper put up a big score, 87.00, and shot towards the top eventually resting in 4th place after the second runs had ended. Brown also improved his score majorly but his 83.00 had to last a long time in 12th place with lots of riders trying to knock him out of the final. Eventually none could do it and he secured a spot in the final. Kenworthy had another great run but it was scored 85.40 so he didn’t improve his standing at all and he was 5th in the round. Finally Christensen had the top score already but moved the bar higher with a 93.20 on his second run.

In the final Bobby Brown only got a 29.20 on his first run and was 11th after the first runs. Gus Kenworthy also failed to put up a big score as his 31.00 left him 10th. Nick Goepper was much more successful as he put up a 92.40 that would have put him on top if it wasn’t for Joss Christensen. Christensen led the way after run one with a 95.80. On run two Brown did move up the standings with a 78.40 but only into 9th. Kenworthy made a bigger move though as he put down a 93.60 and jumped into second place. Goepper tried to move back up but only scored a 61.80 and was stuck with the bronze. Christensen tried to increase his score again but only scored a 93.80 and will have to live with that and a gold medal.

Results Summarized:

  • Bobby Brown – In qualification round he advanced to the final in 12th on an 83.00 from his second run. In the final his second run of 78.40 was only 9th best.
  • Nick Goepper – In qualification round he advanced to the final in fourth on a 87.00 from his second run. In the final his first run of 92.40 was third best and he won bronze.
  • Gus Kenworthy – In qualification round he advanced to the final in fifth on a 86.40 from his first run. In the final his second run of 93.60 was second best as he won a silver medal.
  • Joss Christensen – In qualification round he advanced to the final in first on a 80.40 from his second run. In the final his first run of 95.80 was the best in the competition and he won the gold medal.

Ice Hockey

Events:

  • Men’s Preliminary Round – Group A – USA vs. Slovakia

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first period on a John Carlson goal the US saw the game tied early in the second period after some poor officiating. The US had cleared the puck from their zone and Slovakia brought it back in clearly before they had cleared the zone. The linesman missed the call and Slovakia scored to even it at 1-1.

The US responded just fine though and scored six unanswered in the second (Ryan Kesler, Paul Stastny, David Backes, Paul Stastny, Phil Kessel, Dustin Brown) as they went on to get a 7-1 win.Assists were provided by Ryan Kesler, James Van Riemsdyk (2), Max Pacioretty, T.J. Oshie (2), Phil Kesel (2), Patrick Kane (2), John Carlson, and Kevin Shattenkirk. Jonathan Quick had 22 saves for the US.

The win put the US on top of Group A at 1-0 with a +6 goal differential. Russia is also 1-0 after a 5-2 victory over Slovenia and they will face the US on Saturday at 7:30 AM ET in a game that could decide which country gets a bye in the play-off round.

Results Summarized:

  • USA Men – Beat Slovakia 7-1 behind a six-goal second period. Face Russia next at 7:30 AM ET on Saturday.

Luge

Events:

  • Team Relay Competition

America hoped to win a medal in the first ever team relay competition and things started off fine with bronze medalist Erin Hamlin the second quickest among the women. Unfortunately they couldn’t keep it up as Chris Mazdzer was sixth fastest and the doubles team of Christian Niccum and Jayson Terdiman was seventh fastest. The US finished sixth overall, 1.906 seconds behind the winner but just 0.26 seconds behind the bronze.

Results Summarized:

  • US Relay Team – Finished 6th in 2:47.555, 1.906 seconds behind the leaders and 0.26 seconds behind the bronze. Erin Hamlin (54.338) was 2nd fastest, Chris Mazdzer (56.245) 6th fastest, and the doubles team of Christian Niccum and Jayson Terdiman (56.972) 7th fastest.

Short Track Speed Skating

Events:

  • Women’s 500m Quarterfinals
  • Men’s 1000m Heats
  • Men’s 5000m Relay Semifinals

In the women’s 500m quarterfinals only one American remained, Emily Scott. Scott was in the second heat trying to keep the US hopes alive in the event but her third place finish eliminated her from the competition.

In the men’s 1000m Chris Creveling advanced in second from the first heat. Eddy Alvarez also advanced in second, from the fifth heat, while the sixth heat was won by J.R. Celski. All three will be in the quarterfinals at 5:43 AM ET on Saturday.

The men’s 5000m relay semifinals nearly had disaster for the US. Only two of the four teams would move on and after the US and Korea took a spill it looked like the Americans were done with their fourth place finish. Instead it was ruled that they were obstructed by Korea and they were advanced into the final which will be held on Friday the 21st at 1:18 PM ET.

Results Summarized:

  • Emily Scott – Finished third in her 500m heat and was eliminated.
  • Chris Creveling – Finished second in his 1000m heat and moved into the quarterfinals on Saturday at 5:43 AM ET.
  • Eduardo Alvarez – Finished second in his 1000m heat and moved into the quarterfinals on Saturday at 5:43 AM ET.
  • J.R. Celski – Won his 100m heat and moved into the quarterfinals on Saturday at 5:43 AM ET.
  • Men’s Relay Team – Finished 4th in their 5000m relay semifinals heat but were advanced to the final (Friday the 21st at 1:18 PM ET) after officials ruled they were obstructed by Korea.

Skeleton

Events:

  • Women’s Heat 1
  • Women’s Heat 2

In the first skeleton heat Noelle Pikus-Pace set the pace and set it well with a 58.68. It was topped by the second athlete to go but ended up third best in the heat and left her 0.25 seconds off the lead. Katie Uhlaender went much later in the heat but put up a similar time with her 58.83 placing her fourth, 0.40 seconds behind the leader.

In heat two Uhlaender put up a great run of 58.75, third best in the heat, and stayed in fourth, 0.69 seconds behind the leader. Pikus-Pace was even better with a 58.65 as she moved into second, 0.44 seconds behind the top. Heat three is tomorrow at 10:40 AM ET with heat four at 11:50 AM ET.

Results Summarized:

  • Noelle Pikus-Pace – Was 3rd in run one (58.68) and 2nd in run two (58.65). Is in 2nd overall trailing the leader by 0.44 seconds.
  • Katie Uhlaender – Was 4th in run one (58.83) and 3rd in run two (58.75). Is in 4th overall trailing the leader by 0.69 seconds.

Speed Skating

Events:

  • Women’s 1000m

In the women’s 1000m event on Thursday the first two Americans to go Sugar Todd and Kelly Gunther finished 32nd (1:19.13) and 33rd (1:19.43) respectively. After a long wait in the final four pairs Heather Richardson went and finished 7th in 1:15.23 and Brittany Bowe finished 8th in 1:15.47

Results Summarized:

  • Kelly Gunther – Finished 33rd in 1:19.43.
  • Sugar Todd – Finished 32nd in 1:19.13.
  • Brittany Bowe – Finished 8th in 1:15.47.
  • Heather Richardson – Finished 7th in 1:15.23.

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