Ohno and Kim rule the ice at U.S. Nationals

WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Apolo Ohno and Hyo Jung Kim won 500-meter races Saturday night to remain undefeated after the first three days of the U.S. National Short Track Speedskating Championships.

Ohno, of Seattle, and Kim, of Fullerton, Cal., have finished first in every time trial, heat and race at the Pettit National Ice Center. Having won the 1,500 and 500 meter races, they will try to win the 1,000 and 3,000 relay races Sunday for a championship sweep.

"Winning isn't important. It's important to skate consistently," said Ohno, who won nonetheless to live up to his status as the world's top-ranked skater. Ohno finished with a time of 42.587 seconds to edge JP Kepka of St. Louis (42.918) in a race in which he charged to the front early and easily kept the lead to the finish line.

Kim, the 16-year-old who in one season has become a top World Cup skater, beat teammate Allison Baver of Sinking Spring, Pa., across the finish line for the second straight race. Kim's winning time was 46.041 to 46.200 for Baver.

Despite losing two straight races to Kim, the U.S. team's top two women skaters are close friends and roommates. "We train together and help each other a lot," Baver said.

The third-place finish Shani Davis of Chicago earned was important because he needed points to stay in contention for a spot on the U.S. team that will compete at the World Short Track Championships March 11-13 in Beijing, China. The five men and women who make the team will be determined by points earned in the championship.