After an hour of competition in the cold, wet morning, (five hours if we include all four divisions that took place in the Time Trial) we came to the best and fastest finalists in each division. By the time the evening’s evens commenced, the weather had gone from cold and wet, to warm and sunny and back to cold, as the temperature dropped, unlike most tracks that become faster in the cold night air, we saw many skater’s struggle to even maintain the times that had brought them to the final of the 300 m from earlier that day.

Most skaters agreed that the day’s warmth was preferable for racing on this particular track. Never-the-less, the Time Trail Finals were about to begin.
The rules saw the slowest skater, go first. It seems somewhat inappropriate to describe a competitor in this manner, when they have beaten so many of their peers to qualify for the final Time Trial battle.

With the first 100 m split showing on the massive timing clock, who was the quickest off the start, it did not always result in that skater posting the fastest times.

The special and unique rule at this year’s event: that the competitors were absolutely forbidden to even touch the white inside track line, or be disqualified. Usually the competitors are warned not to go to the colour on the inside of the track past the wide white line. Not wanting to risk disqualification, the skaters stayed well away from the white line, seemly to take them much further than the 300 m they needed to skate.

NOTE: the 300 m is measured 30 cm from the white line on this track.

Junior Ladies 300 m Time Trial:

Italy has long been known for their exceptional sprinting ability. They have had more than their fair-share of Time Trail medals over the years. It is in fact unusual to have a Time Trial and not stand for the Italian anthem. They placed twice in the top ten, including 9th which kept them in the respectable top 10, but did not allow them onto the podium nor to hear their anthem played once again in this event tonight. The best position they could muster was 4th place by Giulia Bongiorno.

As the United State’s Mariah Richardson tore round the track, she looked very much a champion. Her leg rate is incredible and she has a lot of strength. With her time posted, she waited for her fellow competitors to try their best to take a medal from her. Four skaters did just that, leaving Mariah with 5th place.

Yi Seul An of Chung Buk in South Korea, has been speed skating for seven years. Her introduction to the sport came from one of her teachers, who encouraged her to give speed skating a try. Last year in Cali she took a silver medal in the 1000 m. Tonight she gained another medal, bronze. Her team mate, So Yeong Shin, who lives and trains in Daegu City, was a little disappointed to have missed gold by 0.042

The top of the podium was graced by Colombia’s Carolina Magaña, whose lightening-fast start carried her through to the most prized medal of the night.

Junior Men’s 300m Time Trial:

Italy’s Andrea Angeletti was expected to do well in this event. He along with several other skaters, including Belgian’s Bart Swings, Enrique Flores of Venezuela and Keith Carroll of the United States, all had problems keeping their power down on the track. Their feet seemed to be faster than their bodies. A natural occurrence when they were all vying for a podium finish. France’s Elton de Souza also had to be content with less than perfection, though he posted a very credible time he had to be satisfied with 4th place, just missing out on a much-desired medal.

Korea’s Bong Ju Choi stamped his name into the pages of speed skating results, claiming a silver medal. His closest rivals, both of Colombia were Sebastian Arce who took bronze and the fastest junior man of the night: the gold medal winner, Pedro Causil who blitzed them all in the fantastic time of 24.531’.

Senior Ladies 300 m Time Trial:

Four countries deserve a special mention, getting both their skaters into the top 10. They are: South Korea; with 5th and 9th place.Italy; with 6th and 7th separated by the blink of an eye.

Colombia; with the bronze medal taken by Jercy Puello and Jennifer Caicedo just missing the podium taking 4th.

The United States: took the silver medal AND a world record at the same time, by tiny Sara Sayasane. Sara is easily recognisable, by the huge smile that will surely remain on her waiflike face for the rest of the meet.
Within a minute of her breaking the world record it was taken from her (but it did not remove her smile), by her team mate, the much deserving Brittany Bowe. Brittany has had her share of medals and her share of heart ache at worlds over the years. Tonight her jubilation on winning gold in a World Record time was doubled as she shared her elation with her team mate Sara, doing their lap of triumph and honour together, their star spangled flag flying between them.

Senior Men’s 300 m Time Trial:

Italy’s famous Gregorio Duggento has been well known for his time-trailing ability. Not unlike a bull-at-a-gate, Gregorio musters up a good head of steam before he assaults the track. To get in his way would mean certain death, for he takes no prisoners. With a very credible time in the morning’s session, he had every right to feel superior and confident. Tonight it was not to be, for along with fellow countryman Andrea Zanetti they placed 9th and 10th respectively.
Wei Lin Lo from Chinese Taipei was also confident of a medal, but 5th place is what he had to be satisfied with even though he posted a time of 24.995
Colombia’s Andres Muñózmissed the podium by the barest margin and secured 4th position.

Having been spurred on by his partner’s silver medal in the senior Ladies and posting an excellent time in the morning session; Belgium’s Wouter Hebbrecht, who came to the track well before the competition started so he could be well prepared for both the shape and configuration of the track, mustered up all his strength and ability. He gave it his best shot.

A committed and reliable skater, Wouther made the tiniest slip, which in a time trial is not able to be factored in. When his race was run it was 0.026 that separated him from silver and gave him the bronze medal.

It may be no surprise that the silver medal was snapped up by Korea’s Kyung Tae Kang. He is like a ‘quiet achiever’, his long lanky legs carried him around the track in an unassuming manner. He didn’t look as fast as some other skaters. He didn’t pound the track. He smoothly and stealthily took his time, measured his rivals and did what needed to be done. The silver was his.
And what of the gold?

A popular a likable guy; from a tiny country far, far away. Where sheep rule the roost. Where a long, white cloud is said to resign. Where black is black and white is white. But put them together and you’ll find a monster within a monster with an appetite for gold, gold, gold. He came to the start line with one single solitary endeavour. He took on the track and won. He ate up and spate it out. He brought the crowd to their feet with a tumultuous roar. For nobody could deny him the accolades or the reward for being the Fastest Man on the track at the 2008 World Championships in Gijon. He stands alone. He is ‘Mr Kalon Dobbin’.