Speed skater Peter Groseclose bows out of 1000m event

Filipino-American speed skater Peter Groseclose has bowed in his second event in the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic after falling short in the men's 1000m event on Sunday in South Korea.

The 16-year-old bet clocked in one minute and 30.243 seconds in the heats to advance to the quarterfinals but ultimately ended his campaign following a 1:28.899 finish in the quarters and failed to advance to the semifinals.

China's Zhang Xinzhe, who settled for silver in the men's 1500m event yesterday, bounced back hard and clinched the gold medal after a stunning finish of one minute and 26.257 seconds.

Turkish representative Muhammed Bozdag claimed the silver plum after finishing the race in one minute and 26.349 seconds to make up for a seventh overall output in the 1,500-meter tilt.

Kida Raito of Japan, who wound up sixth yesterday, rounded out the podium finishers after copping the bronze with 1:26.478.

Groseclose's coach John-Henry Krueger explained what led to the former's another early exit from the event.

“Peter was just on the outside of the pack for a little too long," he said.

“In short track, you want to minimize your stay outside the pack because you’re skipping the longer distance and putting more effort just to stay with the group. That led to the result.”

Despite the second loss in as many games, Krueger said Groseclose is treading the right path.

Groseclose, one of the three Filipinos seeing action in the quadrennial tournament, will look to finish his campaign on a right note on Monday, where he will be competing in the 500m race.

"Today was a move going to the right direction. However, I think it could have been a much larger gap between what happened yesterday, so we just have to prepare and talk about the tomorrow’s event,” said Krueger.

Groseclose also failed to advance to the semifinals in the 1500m event after clocking 2:20.575 in the quarterfinals. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News