Leech Earns Spot on USA Women's Junior Inline Speed Skating Team

The summer Olympics may have just ended, but the thrill of international competition has just begun for Crystal Lake native Hailey Leech.

Leech, 19, last week earned her place on the U.S.A. Women's Junior Inline Speed Skating World Team during the U.S.A. World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Col.

The Crystal Lake Central High School graduate, class of 2011, is now residing at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, conditioning with 23 members of the men's and women's U.S.A. junior and senior speed skating teams three times per day in preparation for "Worlds."

In three weeks, Hailey leaves for Italy to compete in the 2012 World Inline Speed Skating Championships scheduled for Sept. 7 to 15. Road race events will be held in San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy, and track races are in Ascoli Piceno, said Jenny Leech, Hailey's mom. 

"We are really proud of Hailey's hard work and dedication," said Jenny. "Even more so that she did it while balancing school at McHenry County College last year and two jobs...This is really a culmination of how hard she has worked."

Jenny Leech admitted she was a little nervous last week watching the eldest of her three daughters compete. "Veteran" junior skaters were returning to compete, but a new batch of younger skaters were moving up to the junior level, as well.

"The competition was steep," Jenny Leech said. "There were a couple roller coaster days."

Hailey persevered, however, and relied upon her strength as a sprinter to pull her through. She finished first in the 200 meter road time trial; first in the 500 meter track race; second in the 500 meter road race; and fifth in the 300 meter track time trial. This is the fourth consecutive year, she has qualified for the U.S.A. Women's Junior team.

"Her placements in these races earned her the 'Combined Sprint Champion' spot on the six-member Junior Women's Team," Jenny Leech said. Hailey also finished a respectable third in the 1,000 meter track race, and skated in several other distance races, which she placed in fifth-tenth place, Jenny Leech said.

Hailey's goal for worlds is to medal in the 500 individual meter track race. She also hopes to be selected to skate on the U.S.A. Women's Junior relay squad for the 500.  

However, the skaters won't know until a few days prior to the races which even they'll compete in. As a sprinter, Hailey stands the best chance of being selected to race in the 200 and 300 meter time trials, the 1,000 meter track event and the 500 meter races in road or track.

Hailey was picked the past two years to skate in the relay event for the U.S. Junior World Team, and she is hoping to have the honor of skating relay again this year, her mom said. 

In 2010, Hailey placed fourth in the 500 individual meter track race at the  World Championships held in Guarne, Columbia. She also was a member of hte first and third-place relay teams.

Last year, she placed among the top 14 racers while competing in the 2011 Worlds in Yeosu City, Korea.

Photos provided by Dave Browne.

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