Executive Editor Dennis Sodomka is in Nagano covering the Winter Olympics.

Notebook from Nagano

Web posted February 16, 1998

By Dennis Sodomka
Executive Editor

NAGANO, Japan - The Netherlands nearly swept the medals in the men's 1,000-meter speed skating. Ids Postma took gold with a new Olympic record while teammate Jan Bos took silver.

Only Hiroyasu Shimizu of Japan prevented the sweep, taking the bronze over Jakko Jan Leeuwangh of the Netherlands.

For the United States Casey FitzRandolph finished seventh, K.C. Boutiette eighth, Nathaniel Mills 23rd and Cory Carpenter 29th.

In two-man bobsled the United States teams improved in the second day of racing but still finished out of the medals. Guenther Huber and Antonio Tartaglia of Italy tied for the gold, with Canada's Pierre Leuders and David MacEachern. Germany took the bronze.

Jim Herberich and Robert Olesen of the United States were seventh while Brian Shimer and Garreth Hines were 10th.

Canada won the first Olympic gold medal in women's curling, beating Denmark 7-5. The silver medal was Denmark's first ever Winter Olympics medal.

Switzerland beat the Canadians for the men's gold medal, 9-3.

The U.S. men lost the bronze medal match to Norway 9-4. Norway controlled the game from the beginning, although the Americans mounted a comeback before falling short.

``In the last two games we did not play too well at all,'' said American skip Tim Somerville. ``We had too much ups and downs in the game today. That is why we ended up in fourth place.''

The loss ended a stirring run for the U.S. team, which had to win its last game and then two tie-break games to advance to the medal round.

While thousands of spectators cheered and waved Japanese flags, Kazuyoski Funaki won the gold medal in the large hill ski jump after falling during a trial jump. His teammate, Misahiko Harada, took bronze. It was the first large hill gold for Japan.

For Harada, the top-ranked Japanese jumper, any medal was a relief. He has often made huge jumps in practice and in lesser competitions, but faltered in major events. His second jump of the day covered 136 meters, beyond the range of electronic measuring devices set up on the course. The jump had to be measured by hand.

Casey Colby was the only U.S. qualifier for a second jump. He finished 30th for the two jumps.

Russia's Galina Koukleva missed only one target and won the 7.5-meter sprint biathlon for women. Germany's Ursula Disl was second and Katrin Apel of Germany was third.

Kristina Sabasteanski, of Milford, N.H., was the best U.S. finisher in 33rd place. Debbie Nordyke, of Anchorage, Alaska, was 48th and Stacey Wooley, of Newbury, N.H., was 58th.

DOMINANCE:

The Netherlands nearly swept the medals in the men's 1,000-meter speed skating. Ids Postma took gold with a new Olympic record while teammate Jan Bos took silver.

Only Hiroyasu Shimizu of Japan prevented the sweep, taking the bronze over Jakko Jan Leeuwangh of the Netherlands.

For the United States Casey FitzRandolph finished seventh, K.C. Boutiette eighth, Nathaniel Mills 23rd and Cory Carpenter 29th.

BOBSLED:

In two-man bobsled the United States teams improved in the second day of racing but still finished out of the medals. Guenther Huber and Antonio Tartaglia of Italy tied for the gold, with Canada's Pierre Leuders and David MacEachern. Germany took the bronze.

Jim Herberich and Robert Olesen of the United States were seventh while Brian Shimer and Garreth Hines were 10th.

CURLING:

Canada won the first Olympic gold medal in women's curling, beating Denmark 7-5. The silver medal was Denmark's first ever Winter Olympics medal.

Switzerland beat the Canadians for the men's gold medal, 9-3.

The U.S. men lost the bronze medal match to Norway 9-4. Norway controlled the game from the beginning, although the Americans mounted a comeback before falling short.

``In the last two games we did not play too well at all,'' said American skip Tim Somerville. ``We had too much ups and downs in the game today. That is why we ended up in fourth place.''

The loss ended a stirring run for the U.S. team, which had to win its last game and then two tie-break games to advance to the medal round.

JAPANESE HERO:

While thousands of spectators cheered and waved Japanese flags, Kazuyoski Funaki won the gold medal in the large hill ski jump after falling during a trial jump. His teammate, Misahiko Harada, took bronze. It was the first large hill gold for Japan.

For Harada, the top-ranked Japanese jumper, any medal was a relief. He has often made huge jumps in practice and in lesser competitions, but faltered in major events. His second jump of the day covered 136 meters, beyond the range of electronic measuring devices set up on the course. The jump had to be measured by hand.

Casey Colby was the only U.S. qualifier for a second jump. He finished 30th for the two jumps.

WOMEN'S BIATHLON:

Russia's Galina Koukleva missed only one target and won the 7.5-meter sprint biathlon for women. Germany's Ursula Disl was second and Katrin Apel of Germany was third.

Kristina Sabasteanski, of Milford, N.H., was the best U.S. finisher in 33rd place. Debbie Nordyke, of Anchorage, Alaska, was 48th and Stacey Wooley, of Newbury, N.H., was 58th.