2025 Short Track Age Group Nationals Hosted By Garden State

Top skaters from around the country met in South Brunswick, New Jersey, over the weekend for the US Speedskating Short Track Age Group Nationals. Hosted by Garden State Speedskating and held at the Proskate Ice Arena, competitions were held across multiple divisions, ranging from Junior to Masters.

This year, Potomac Speedskating Club of Maryland claimed Club Champion for the eighth time by accumulating an impressive overall of 35 points in total. East Penn Speed Skating Club and Oval Speed followed with 8 points and 6 points.

In the Junior A men’s division, Yiming He secured first place, winning the 500m and 1000m. Julius Kazanecki placed second and JaTier Salter came in third.

In the Junior B men’s division, Benjamin Sullivan won first, winning the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m. Brandon Liao and William Wang placed second and third overall.

In the Junior C men’s division, Daniel Jin claimed first place, winning in the 1500m, 500m, and 1000m. Lucas Wu came in second, with Robert Tolliver placing in third.

In the Junior D men’s division, Matthew Yeping Zhang from the Oval Speed Team came in first, with Bryan Wang in second, and Haojun Lin in third.

For the women’s races, in the Junior A division, Marta Meehan placed first overall.

In the Junior B women’s division, Elizabeth Rhodehamel won in every distance and secured first place. Sofia Koons and Selena Su followed, earning second and third.

In the Junior C women’s division skater Isabella Chen took gold, winning first in the 1500m, 500m, and 1000m. Carolyn Tegtmeier placed second and Tatyana Pometun placed third overall.

In the Junior D women’s division, Makayla Chou secured first place by winning both the 1000m and 500m events, with Veronica Sullivan and Vanessa Chan coming in second and third.

“I think it’s an amazing experience skating at Nationals, because I can always put on my best performance, and really see all the work and effort I’ve put into this season pay off,” says Junior D Champion, Makayla Chou.

The masters are ranked in 5 year age groups and the top podium finishers were:

Women 30-34 – Jamie Jung

Women 40-44 – Laura Alexander

Women  45-49 – Sara Cushman

Women 75-79 – Carole Moore

Men 30-34 – 1.Mikey Burdekin, 2. Brian Redding

Men 35-39 – 1. Tim Van Fleet, 2. JinSung Kim, 3. Serjiy Lifyrenko

Men 40-44 – Paul Brimley

Men 45-49 – Maxim Pometun

Men 50-54 – 1. Daniel Butler, 2. Anthony Salvati

Men 55-59 – 1. Eddie Kim, 2. Keith Wobeser

Men 60-64 – 1. David Phillips, 2. Richard Fuhr

Men 65-69 – 1. Jack Torrey, 2. Dave Pate, 3. Andrew Holtzhauser

Men 70-74- 1. Robert Allison, 2. Alan Cook

This year, US Speedskating & Garden State introduced the National/Jersey Challenge Races to skate alongside Age Group Nationals. Fourteen young skaters battled on the track, with Lindsay Lin taking first overall for women’s, and Harvey Qu in first for men’s. This event was an opportunity for skaters to gain racing experience, as well as learn from the more experienced skaters.

“It’s really cool, being able to see all of the older skaters race. I can see their tracks, their forms, which helps me become a better skater overall,” Harvey Qu says.

In tandem with the competition, US Speedskating led a Future of Speed ‘Let’s Race’ camp, giving younger skaters the chance to showcase their growing talents in both camp activities and in competition.

Thank you to the Garden State Speedskating Club for hosting the competition, and to the officials, staff, and volunteers whose dedication made this race possible. Thank you to ProSkate Arena for hosting and supporting this event.