Mr. Media Report from 2006 Short Track Nationals, Madison WI
March-17-2006	Friday started with Cole winning his 1000 heat and JH winning his 777 heat. Evan and Ross were placed in the same 333 heat where Evan won and Ross respectably trailed the field. In the semis Maddie had her first 1000 race where she came in second to qualify for the final later that day. (Because there were 16 juvenile girls they skipped quarters and went straight to 3 semi races.) JH then showed some scrappyness to place first in his 777 semi race and Evan placed first in his 333 semi race. Cole then placed second in his 1000 semi race. On the first day four Pittsburgh skaters advanced to the finals to take place that evening. The first final was Evan in the 333 race where he finished fourth. JH showed his stuff in the 777 final to take third place. Maddie's 1000 final was full of thrills as she came out of the start in fifth place (out of 6) and quickly passed up to fourth. A few laps later disaster struck as she fell in the corner with another skater tripping over her. She was the first of the two back up but now well behind the field when a few laps later the two leaders fell. Maddie moved back into fourth to finish there. Last of the Pittsburgh skaters up for the night was Cole who finished second in the juvenile boys 1000 passing from third position to do so.
March-18-2006	Saturday was 500 meter day for everyone. Maddie, Cole, JH, and Evan all won their quarter heats. Ross was once again in the same heat as his brother and finished strong in 5th place. On to the semis where Maddie came off the line in second place where she needed to be, but in the final couple of laps she was passed to finish in third place and did not advance to the final. She did set a new personal best of 52.135. Cole and JH finished first in the semis to qualify for the finals and Evan took second to qualify as well. Evan started the night of 500 finals in exciting style coming off the line behind in fourth place he moved into third when a skater fell. He then chased down the skater in front of him to pass in the last lap to finish in second place with a new personal best of 57.35. JH had an uncharacteristically slow start and never got it together to finish in fifth place. Cole finished third in his 500 final.
March-19-2006	Sunday was the start of a long day. JH finished first in his 333 heat the day before which I did not see. Sunday actually started with Evan finishing in first in a 222 heat. Finally Ross didn't have to share a heat with his brother where he place fourth in his 222 heat. Maddie placed third in her 777 heat to qualify for the semis. Cole placed first in his 777 heat. On to the semis where the four Pittsburgh skaters all finished in qualifying positions. Evan was second in a 222 semi, JH second in a 333 semi, and Maddie and Cole both finished first in their 777 semis. Maddie once again set a new personal best. The finals were a little rough. Evan got off the line in fourth place to stay there in his 222 final. JH faired better to place third in a hard fought 333 final. Up next was Maddie who to that point was tied for sixth place overall in the point tally and needed to finish ahead of Golz in the 777 final to qualify for the super finals. With five girls in the final she drew fifth place on the line and decided to start strong. Off the line she ploughed into Longdon and both girls fell. The starter called them back for a restart. Second start she came out of the apex in third postion and ahead of Golz but a few laps later she slipped, made a detour towards center ice, regained her balance, but dropped to fourth where she stayed to finish the race. It didn't get any better for Cole's 777 final where he missed a block and had to lap back to pick it up. He finished in last and fifth place. Evan, JH, and Cole acquired enough points to qualify for a super final. First up was Evan in a 777 race. It was a crowded field of seven and Evan was showing everyone that he had the right stuff working his way up to third position when the skater in front of him fell and Evan was tripped up. He finished in sixth place. JH was up next in a 1000 meter super final where he passed near the end of the race to finish second. Finally Cole took the ice in a 1500 super final. He followed the pack for a few laps and then took over setting a blistering pace. In the last lap he was passed to finish second. Overall Cole finished 3rd in Juvenile Boys, John-Henry finished 3rd in Midget Boys, Evan finished 4th in Pony Boys, and Maddie finished 7th in Juvenile Girls.