Fall ends Davis' short-track team bid

MARQUETTE, Mich. — Shani Davis' bid to make both U.S. Olympic speedskating teams ended Friday night when he fell in the semifinals of the 1,000 meters, the final event of the national short-track championships.

Davis, a world record holder in long track and already qualified for that team, wanted to make the short track squad as well — an unlikely quest in a sport in which nearly all skaters specialize in one or the other.

Davis gave himself a slim chance with a third-place finish in the 500, his best showing of the four-day meet. He still needed to finish no worse than second in the 1,000 — the distance at which he holds the long track record.

But this is short track — pack-style racing on a hockey rink instead of timed pairs on a much-larger oval.

In the semis, Davis was battling in the middle of a tightly packed group when he appeared to catch one of the markers with his skate on the turn. The 23-year-old Chicago native stumbled briefly, tried to catch himself but fell face down as he entered the straightaway.

He bounced up quickly and skated all out the final two laps, but there was nothing he could do. The top three — Rusty Smith, Anthony Lobello and Misi Toth — were too far in front.

When it was over, Davis glided around the ice waving to the cheering crowd at the Northern Michigan University rink, where he does much of his training. Once he stepped off the ice, he hugged fellow skater Jordan Malone and appeared close to tears.

"I wanted to go out with a fight," Davis said. "I wanted to come here and give it my best shot. Unfortunately, something bad happened. That's part of speedskating. I accept it."

Davis returned to the ice one more time to skate in the consolation final. He sent the crowd into a frenzy when he stuck his skate over the line for the win, though it only meant he finished fifth in the event.

"It's bittersweet," Davis said. "I was looking for that all week and I couldn't find it. I found it on the last night."

Then it was time to cede the spotlight to Apolo Anton Ohno, the soul-patched darling of the last Winter Games.

Ohno won both the 500 and the 1,000 on the meet's final night, giving him seven victories in eight events. Next stop, Turin, where he figures to be a major medal contender.