KEARNS — Making their first World Cup appearance on American ice in more than a year has the U.S. short track speedskating team excited.

Not only are this weekend's races the final ones of the season before next month's world championships in China, they are a rare opportunity to perform in front of family and friends all while sleeping in their own beds and skating on a familiar surface.

"It's the most exciting world cup," said rising star Katherine Reutter, "considering it's right here on our own ice."

Reutter will be joined by the rest of her U.S. teammates — including Olympians Apolo Anton Ohno, Alison Baver and Jeff Simon — at the Utah Olympic Oval. It's the first major international short track event to be held at the facility since the team relocated to Utah from Colorado Springs about a year ago.

Athletes from around the world, including many who are hoping to find themselves atop the medal podium at the 2010 Vancouver Games, will take part in three days of competition.

Last week, in Quebec for a World Cup event, the Americans earned a silver medal in the men's 5,000 relay while Baver brought home a bronze in the women's 1,500.

Ohno, the most visible and popular member of the national squad, was disqualified in the men's 1,500 but was a member of the relay team that placed second.

Improving on those performances and earning more podium places is a priority for the team.

"We are strong and getting more strong," U.S. coach Ja Sue Chun said. "This week, I think we can expect good performance."

The event begins Friday at 9:30 a.m. with qualifying heats and continues through Sunday with finals on Saturday and Sunday.

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Short track Speedskating World Cup

Utah Olympic Oval, Kearns

Feb. 8-10: Tickets: 968-OVAL or olyparks.com

Friday, 9:30 a.m.

1,500 prelims

500 prelims

1,000 prelims

Women's 3,000 Relay prelims

Men's 5,000 Relay prelims

Saturday, 6 p.m.

1,500 Finals

500 Finals

Women's 3,000 relay semis

Men's 5,000 relay semis

Sunday, 3 p.m.

500 finals

1,000 finals

Women's 3,000 relay final

Men's 5,000 relay final

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E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com