Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Daily Olympic Reviews, Freestyle Skiing, Nordic Combined, Olympics, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding, Sochi 2014, Speed Skating

February 18th – Sochi 2014 – Daily Review

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Tuesday saw another gold medal for the US as the US had a number of really good performances. Disciplines are wrapping up as we head into the final few days of the Olympics and people make their final appearance in Sochi.

Alpine Skiing

Events:

  • Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1
  • *Women’s Giant Slalom Run 2

The first competitor up for the US was Mikaela Shiffrin and she put up a great run of 1:18.79 that was only fourth best at the time. It would have staying power though and ended up fifth best in run one. Julia Mancuso was next and after chasing the pace in the first half of the hill she got off course and missed a gate to take a DNF. Later on Megan McJames finished in 1:22.77, 32nd, and Resi Stiegler finished in 1:22.69, 31st. 

The second run began with the first 30 in reverse order so Shiffrin was the first one to go for the US after 25 skiers. Shiffirn put up a good 1:18.58 run, sixth best of the second runs, and stayed in fifth with a 2:37.37, half a second off the lead. After the top 30 had gone McJames finished in 1:21.60, 30th best of the second heats, and her total time of 2:44.37 was 30th best. Stiegler went 29th best in run two with a 1:21.38 and she finished 29th overall with a 2:44.07.

Results Summarized:

  • Julia Mancuso – DNF on run one.
  • Megan McJames – Finished 30th with a time of 2:44.37. Was 32nd in run one with a 1:22.77 and 30th in run two with a 1:21.60.
  • Resi Stiegler – Finished 29th with a time of 2:44.07. Was 31st in run one with a 1:22.69 and 29th in run two with a 1:21.38.
  • Mikaela Shiffrin – Finished 5th with a time of 2:37.37. Was 5th in run one with a 1:18.79 and 6th in run two with a 1:18.58.

Biathlon

Events:

  • *Men’s mass start 15 km

The third day was the charm as the men’s mass start 15km finally happened on Tuesday. Lowell Bailey and Tim Burke were in the pack at the first round of shooting but both missed two shots in that round and never had a chance after that. Burke missed four shots in total and finished 21st in 44:55.9, 2:26.8 behind the leaders. Bailey missed five shots in total and finished 23rd in 45:19.2, 2:50.1 behind the leaders Results Summarized:

  • Lowell Bailey – He finished in 23rd with a time of 45:55.9, 2:26.8 behind the winner, after missing four targets.
  • Tim Burke – He finished in 21st with a time of 45:19.2, 2:50.1 behind the winner, after missing five targets.

Bobsleigh

Events:

  • Women’s Heat 1
  • Women’s Heat 2

The first team for the US (Elana Meyers and Lauryn Williams) put up the top time in heat one with a 57.26, 0.13 seconds better than anyone else. In heat two they didn’t match that time but their 57.63 was still the best of the heat and they finished the first day in the lead by 0.23 seconds after a time of 1:54.89.

The second team of Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans was third best in heat one with a 57.45, 0.19 seconds behind the leaders. In heat two they were third fastest again with a 58.00 and are now in third heading into the second day trailing the leaders by 0.56 seconds and the second place team by 0.33 seconds after their total time of 1:55.45.

The final US team (Jazmine Fenlattor and Lolo Jones) was 11th in heat one with a 58.27, 1.01 seconds behind the leaders. In heat two their time of 58.46 was 12th quickest and they sit in 11th, 1.84 seconds behind the top, with a time of 1:56.73.

Results Summarized:

  • Jazmine Fenlattor and Lolo Jones – In 11th with a time of 1:56.73, 1.84 seconds behind the leader. In heat one was 11th fastest with a 58.27. In heat two was 12th fastest with a 58.46.
  • Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans – In 3rd with a time of 1:55.45, 0.56 seconds behind the leader. In heat one was 3rd fastest with a 57.45. In heat two was 3rd fastest with a 58.00.
  • Elana Meyers and Lauryn Williams – In the lead with a time of 1:54.89, 0.23 seconds clear at the top. In heat one was fastest with a 57.26. In heat two was also fastest with a 57.63.

Freestyle Skiing

Events:

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

In the qualification round Aaron Blunck scored a 69.40 to start but was only 12th after the first run, right on the bubble. David Wise was the next American to go and his 88.40 was the second best of the run. Lyman Currier only managed a 4.20, 28th best, and Torin Yater-Wallace was 26th with a 7.00. They would have work to do on run two.

On run two Blunck started off with a 72.00 which would end up being the 4th best of run two. He didn’t need it though as none of the skiers outside the top 12 after run one moved into it. Wise scored a 68.60 that didn’t improve his score and he finished second overall. Currier did score a 12.60, 25th best on the run, but finished 28th. Yater-Wallace scored a 39.00, 18th best on the second run, and finished 26th.

In the final Blunck started off with a 68.60 which placed him seventh after one run. Wise scored a 92.00 to go top after the first run. In the second run Blunck did improve to a 79.40 but only finished seventh. Wise couldn’t improve his score at all after a 3.40 but it didn’t matter as no one could top his 92.00 and Wise won the US another gold medal.

Results Summarized:

  • Lyman Currier – In qualification round his second run score of 12.60 placed him 28th.
  • Torin Yater-Wallace – In qualification round one his second run score of 39.00 placed him 26th.
  • Aaron Blunck – In qualification round one his second run score of 72.00 placed him 12th and advanced him to the final. In the final his 79.40 on his second run placed him seventh.
  • David Wise – In qualification round one his first run score of 88.40 placed him 2nd and advanced him to the final. In the final his 92.00 on the first run won him a gold medal!

Nordic Combined

Events:

  • Individual Gundersen LH/10 km Competition Round
  • *Individual Gundersen LH/10 km Cross-Country

The second individual nordic combined event was on Tuesday Todd Lodwick went first for the US and his jump score of 98.8 placed him 30th, 2:01 behind the start in cross-country. Taylor Fletcher was next to go and his jump score of 95.8 placed him 35th, 2:13 behind the start in cross-country. Bill Demong scored a 94.5 and so he started the cross-country 38th and 2:18 behind the leader. Finally Bryan Fletcher scored a 99.3 and he was the first American to start in cross-country 1:59 behind the leader in 27th.

In the cross-country race Lodwick did not start and all the Americans moved up with Taylor Fletcher finishing 20th in 22:31.6, 1:17.1 behind the winner and having made up almost a full minute. Demong moved up to 31st and finished 2:13.8 behind the winner after a time of 23:23.3. Bryan Fletcher moved up to 22nd where he finished in 22:53.3, 1:24.8 behind the winner.

Results Summarized:

  • Todd Lodwick – Finished 30th in the ski jumping with a 98.8. Did not start cross-country portion.
  • Bill Demong – Finished 38th in the ski jumping with a 94.5. Started cross-country portion 2:18 behind the leader and moved up to 31st by the end of the race as he finished in 23:23.3, 2:13.8 behind the winner.
  • Bryan Fletcher – Finished 27th in the ski jumping with a 99.3. Started cross-country portion 1:59 behind the leader and moved up to 22nd by the end of the race as he finished in 22:53.3, 1:24.8 behind the winner.
  • Taylor Fletcher – Finished 35th in the ski jumping with a 95.8. Started cross-country portion 2:13 behind the leader and moved up to 20th by the end of the race as he finished in 22:31.6, 1:17.1 behind the winner.

Short Track Speed Skating

Events:

  • Women’s 1000m Heats
  • Men’s 500m Heats

In the first 1000m heat Jessica Smith raced pretty cleanly to a second place finish and a berth in the quarterfinals. Emily Scott was not so lucky as she got tangled with another skater and fell off the pace for a bit. She roared back however and nipped second at the line to advance to the quarterfinals on Friday at 11:44 AM ET.

In the men’s 500m Eddy Alvarez lost his balance in his heat and fell, finishing fourth and being eliminated. Jordan Malone had some problems in his heat and never was on pace as he finished fourth and was eliminated. Finally J.R. Celski had a good clean skate and was one of two in a breakaway finish to easily finish second and make the quarterfinals on Friday at 11:30 AM ET.

Results Summarized:

  • Jessica Smith – Finished second in her 1000m heat to reach Friday’s 11:44 AM ET quarterfinals.
  • Emily Scott – Despite getting knocked off pace and having a lot of ground to make up she finished second in her 1000m heat to reach Friday’s 11:44 AM ET quarterfinals.
  • Eduardo Alvarez – Fell and finished fourth in his 500m heat and was eliminated.
  • Jordan Malone – Finished fourth in his 500m heat and was eliminated.
  • J.R. Celski – Finished second in his 500m heat and moved into the quarterfinals on Friday at 11:30 AM ET..

Snowboarding

Events:

  • Men’s Snowboard Cross 1/8 finals
  • Men’s Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals
  • Men’s Snowboard Cross Semifinals
  • *Men’s Snowboard Cross Finals

After a day where they couldn’t get the race in snowboard cross finally began on Tuesday. Nick Baumgartner was first to go for the US but he had some problems near the start and couldn’t get back into the top three being eliminated in the 1/8 finals with a fourth place finish. In heat two Alex Deibold was able to advance after finishing in third. In the third 1/8 final heat American Trevor Jacob was first across the line but Nate Holland wasn’t so fortunate as a problem in the middle caused him to finish fourth and be eliminated.

In the quarterfinals Deibold again advanced in third place from his heat while Jacob was second in his heat as they both advanced to the same semifinal. In the semifinal the two Americans ended up racing to the line for third. Jacob was closer to the line but got sideways just as he approached and Deibold nipped third from him at the last second in an extremely tight photo finish. Jacob headed to the small final (7th-12th) while Deibold would race for a medal.

In the small final Jacob had a good race and finished third meaning he was 9th place in the Olympics. In the medal final Alex Deibold once again finished third. This time though the reward wasn’t just moving on to another round, this time it won him a bronze medal.

Results Summarized:

  • Nick Baumgartner – Finished fourth in his 1/8 finals heat and was eliminated.
  • Nate Holland – Finished fourth in his 1/8 finals and was eliminated.
  • Trevor Jacob – Won his 1/8 finals heat to move into the quarterfinals. Was second in his quarterfinal heat to reach the semifinals. Finished fourth in his semifinal to be pushed into the small final. Finished third in the small final to finish 9th overall.
  • Alex Deibold – Finished third in his 1/8 finals heat to move into the quarterfinals. Was third in his quarterfinal heat to reach the semifinals. Finished third again in his semifinal to reach the final. Finished third again in the final to win a bronze medal.

Speed Skating

Events:

  • Men’s 10000m

Patrick Meek was the first American to go and his time of 13:28.72 was 44.27 seconds behind the winner but placed him 11th. Emery Lehman went next and finished 10th in 13:28.67, 44.22 seconds behind the winner.

Results Summarized:

  • Patrick Meek – Finished 11th in 13:28.72, 44.27 seconds behind the winner.
  • Emery Lehman – Finished 10th in 13:28.67, 44.22 seconds behind the winner.

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