LAKEWOOD — Local speed skaters have something to celebrate after several Snohomish County athletes won gold medals at the recent Indoor Speed Skating National Championships in Lincoln, Neb., from July 15-21.
Nick Dominski, from Lakewood, placed second overall in the Standard Junior Men Division, for those aged 16-17 years old, and received two gold medals in the 500-meter and 1,000-meter distance races. Dominski skates regularly for Pattison’s Team X-treme in Federal Way. It was not the first national competition for Dominski, who also competed in the 2011 Indoor Speed Skating Championships, where he placed fifth in the Senior Four Man Relay with Jordan Hafenscher, Zachary Sagiao and Brandon Hall.
Indoor skating, a variation characteristic of competition in the United States, uses a 100-meter oval track in individual and relay events, according to USA Roller Sports, the organization that hosts the championships. According to USARS, in individual events champions are determined by the points they earn in the final races of each distance skated. Relay events, either for two or four skaters, single gender or mixed, give teams of skaters the opportunity to combine their skills against other relay contestants. USARS conducts separate national competitions for quad and inline roller skates.
The national team also included Jillian VanDam, of Marysville, who took first place overall in the Standard Grand Classic Women. VanDam won gold medals in the 500-meter, 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter distances.
Other members of the Washington national team found similar success. Christian Johnson from Everett placed fourth overall in the Standard Junior Men division, receiving a silver medal in the 2,000-meter distance. Also from Everett, Mandy Redford placed sixth overall the Standard Junior Women division and second overall in the Novice Junior Women division and she received a gold medal in the 1,000-meter distance.
Snohomish’s Ryan Johnson placed third overall in the Novice Junior Men division and received two bronze medals — for the 500-meter distance and 1,000-meter distances. Jordan Hafenscher placed third overall in Standard Senior Men division and also received a gold medal, for the 3,000-meter distance.
Following the national championships, the team competed on Aug. 4, in Colorado Springs, Colo. in the Outdoor Speed Skating National Championships, where they competed for a spot on the USA World team. The World Speed Skating Championships take place in Rome from Aug. 30 to Sept. 16.
