Quebec performance qualifies Baltimore's Shilling for worlds

4th place overall in Cup earns trip to Netherlands

Speed Skating

J.P. Shilling of Baltimore, a member of the U.S. Olympic team, was one of four U.S. skaters to qualify for the World Allround Speed Skating Championships to be held this weekend in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

Last weekend, Shilling skated races of 500, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters as part of the Continental Cup competition in St. Foy, Quebec, and finished fourth overall with a cumulative 170.027 points. The Continental Cup is the North American regional qualifying event for the world championships.

Shilling, who finished 14th in the 1,500-meter long-track race in Salt Lake City, will join Olympic gold and silver medalist Derek Parra, who pre-qualified, and Jondon Trevena of Fort Collins, Colo., who placed sixth overall in Quebec with 170.705 points.

For the women, two-time Olympic bronze medalist Jennifer Rodriquez will be joined on the U.S. team by Catherine Raney and Annie Driscoll.