Thursday, February 14, 2002
Auch in tough to make podium
By GREG Di CRESCE -- Winnipeg Sun
Winnipeg speed skater Susan Auch finished 20th out of 31 sprinters yesterday in the first of two 500 metre races.
Her time of 38.84 seconds left her 1.54 seconds behind leader and fellow Canuck Catriona Le May Doan.
Even if the five-time Olympian were to skate near her personal best (38.09) today, she has no hope of getting on the podium. Auch was the silver medallist in this event in the 1994 and 1998 Olympics.
After today's 500m race, the 35-year-old sprinter will participate in the 1,000m event with North Kildonan skater Cindy Klassen on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in women's Olympic ice hockey yesterday forward Jennifer Botterill of Manitoba had a goal and an assist in a 7-0 win over Russia. Manitoban goalie Sami Jo Small collected the shutout for Canada turning aside six Russian shots over 60 minutes.
In the women's first win of the Games -- a 7-0 romp over Kazakhstan -- Botterill didn't manage a point and Small sat on the bench.
The women's next contest is Saturday against Sweden.
Divine intervention: Before Cindy Klassen skated to a bronze in the 3,000m, she was so anxious and excited that she was told by Speed Skating Canada officials not to call her parents.
"We were told they were worried she'd lose focus or burn up all her energy before the race if she talked to us," said Cindy's mom Helga Klassen, who leaves today for Salt Lake to watch her daughter race.
"But when she came to the line on Sunday she was calm. It seemed to be divine intervention that calmed her down ... we know all the skating was done by Cindy but it seems the prayers here helped too."
The 22-year-old skater is a graduate of the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate.
It's the boots: It's gotta be in the boots. Both Canada's Catriona Le May Doan and Russia's Svetlana Zhurova wear skates made by St. James native Scott Van Horne, and are expected to medal today in the 500m.
2002 Games Long Track Speed Skating Coverage
