Celski and Ohno qualify in 1,000 meters, relay at Vancouver Olympics

By Casey Olson • February 19, 2010 4:28 pm
Federal Way native J.R. Celski won his first Olympic medal Saturday when he skated to third place in the 1
Federal Way native J.R. Celski won his first Olympic medal Saturday when he skated to third place in the 1

Federal Way resident J.R. Celski raced for the first time Wednesday since snaring a bronze medal last weekend.

The 19-year-old finished second in his qualifying heat in the 1,000 meters and helped the United States relay team move on. Celski finished third in the 1,500 meters on Saturday.

The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals of the 1,000 will be today (Feb. 20). The 5,000 relay final is on Feb. 26, the last event of the short track program.

Celski hung back during most of his qualifying race Wednesday before moving into second place during the final turn. He finished with the third-fastest time of the day, 1:25.113. The top-two finishers in the eight races qualified for the 1,000-meter quarterfinals.

The U.S. relay team, which also includes former Federal Way resident Apolo Ohno, easily qualified for the final after Italy and France collided nine laps into the 45-lap heat. The Americans finished second in their heat behind Korea.

Ohno also qualified in the 1,000 and needs just one more medal to become the most decorated United States Winter Olympian in history. Ohno has six medals and is tied with Bonnie Blair.

• The 75th running of the $250,000 Longacres Mile highlights a 31-race stakes schedule for the 2010 season at Emerald Downs.

A total of $1,760,000 will be offered in stakes purses including a quarter-million for the diamond anniversary running of the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 22.

The 2010 season, the 15th at Emerald Downs, begins Friday, April 9 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 26. Racing days for the 89-day meeting are Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Thursday racing June 10 to Aug. 26.