Ohno, Reutter skate to victory

ST. LOUIS — Defending champions Apolo Anton Ohno and Katherine Reutter opened the U.S. Short Track Championships with victories Friday.

Ohno, winner of five Olympic medals and the current overall world champion, won the men's 1,500 meters in 2 minutes, 23.927 seconds, just ahead of Jeff Simon of Long Beach, Calif., in 2:24.029 and J.R. Celski of Federal Way, Wash., in 2:24.039.

Ohno took the lead with 4 laps remaining in the 13-lap event, but the three, along with Ryan Bedford, crowded each other to the finish line.

Reutter, a native of Champaign, Ill., who trains in Salt Lake City, won the women's 1,500 meters with 2:23.446. She skated in a pack through 12 laps with Kimberly Derrick of Caledonia, Mich., and Jessica Smith of Melvindale, Mich., before putting on a burst of speed and opening a 10-foot gap that she maintained to the end. Derrick finished in 2:23.888., Smith in 2:23.970.

Competitors earn points based on their finish in five events. The top five men and women will represent the U.S. at the World Cup events in February and the World Championships in Vienna in March.