Southee Sets New Aussie Records and Olympic Qualifying Time

Ben Southee, during day 1 of the Calgary Invitational, has set new Australian records in the 500m and 1500m, with the 1500m time also being an Olympic Qualifying time.

Ben Skated a 1:48.79 to lower Richard Goerlitz's previous NR by almost two seconds. Richard Goerlitz also skated this event and posted a world cup qualifying time of 1:52.86.

Australia now has three skaters who have qualified to skate the 1500m at world cups this season.

In the 500m, Ben lowered Daniel Greig's national record, set in March, down to 36.78.

With selection of the national team for the first world cup in Berlin next weekend due to be finalised this weekend, the national selectors have a tough weekend ahead making their decisions.

The last couple of weeks saw Desly Hill take the Heerenveen crew to Berlin for a training camp and some racing.

The weekend of the 24th and 25th of October saw the group racing two events in Berlin.
Thanks to Daniel Yeow for the use of the photos - www.danielyeow.com


Sophie Muir skated season bests in the 500m and 1000m skating 40.25 and 1:21.31 respectively. The 500m time was only marginally slower than her personal best skated in Calgary in March, so very promising for the start of the world cup season.



Josh Lose competed in the 1500m and 5000m events. Josh posted a season best 1:54.50 in the 1500m. In the 5000m, Josh was up against the one and only Bob de Jong of the Netherlands. Bob is the 10000m gold medalist from the 2006 Turin Games and a 4 time world champion in the 5000m and 10000m disciplines. Josh skated an admirable 7:01.19 to finish 40sec behind de Jong who skated a season best time.

Daniel Greig competed in the 500m and 1000m disciplines, skating slightly off his best with a 38.43 and 1:16.57 respectively. Come world cup time, I am sure Daniel will be slicing times down once again.

Daniel Yeow recorded a personal best in the 1500m skating a 2:06.81 to slice 6 secs off his personal best. Daniel also skated the 500m and 1000m distances, recording 42.04 and 1:23.27.

Daniel pictured here with National Coach, Desly Hill.

Good luck to all the skaters for the first world cup, and as soon as I know the selector's decisions for Berlin, I will post them up.