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Fredricks shines at speedskating national championships

WEST ALLIS — Tucker Fredricks admitted things are getting better.

Fredricks, a 2004 Olympic speedskating qualifier in the 2004 Turin Games and Janesville Craig graduate, came through the final day of the U.S. Long Track Speedskating National Championships here at the Pettit National Ice Center with renewed confidence in his health.

Fredricks won the 500-meter sprint in 35.34 seconds after winning the event in 35.35 on Monday. Fredricks finished sixth in the 1,000 meters in 1:11.60 after finishing seventh (1:11.78) Monday.

“It didn’t bother me at all during the races,” Fredricks said in a phone interview of his shin-splint-like injury he’s been battling since November. “I think I’m on the right track.’’

Fredricks was happy with his start in the 500.

“It was actually one of my fastest openers of the year,” Fredricks said. “I made a mistake out on the first turn and I didn’t carry my speed.

Fredricks said the 1,000 is still a work in progress.

“In the 500, I’m getting a lot of confidence back since my shins are doing better, but not so much in the 1,000,” Fredricks said. “I just don’t have the right feel and confidence for that yet.

“It will come when it wants to come. I’ve been trying for a while to figure out how to skate the race.”

Fredricks finished second (142.380) in the overall point standings to Shani Davis (140.740).

Davis, No. 1 in the World Cup standings in the 1,000, won in 1:09.20 on Monday and 1:09.64 on Tuesday. He finished second to Fredricks both days in the 500.

“Shani has a lot of talent and he helps me with turns and what kind of line to take in the 1,000,” Fredricks said. “I’m helping him get his openers down in the 500.’’

Fredricks and the U.S. team returned to Salt Lake City today and will leave for World Cup competition in Russia in two weeks.

The four-day meet determined national championships and slots on the U.S. winter World Cup team. The trials to decide the U.S. team for the 2010 Olympics will be at this site in October.