American torches Sochi ice

SOCHI, Russia —

Add this to the list of complaints by visitors to Sochi: The ice at the speed skating rink is too humid. It’s not just journalists and tourists finding the going slushy at the Olympics. U.S. speed skater Patrick Meek on Saturday said the Adler Arena Skating Center is simply too close to the Black Sea to produce decent times. “It’s a really nice surface, and they’ve done the best they can,” Meek said, after finishing 20 that 5,000 meters in 6: 32.94. “But you can see the Black Sea from the building. You’re fighting geography. It’s what we call fake ice.You think it’s fast, but it’s not fast.” The ice turns whiter and less glossy as it grows softer from humidity. Rinks in drier climates, such as Salt Lake City, are naturally faster. Meek said he tired badly toward the end and his legs tired, in part because of conditions. The world record in the 5,000, set by Sven Kramer of the Netherlands in 2007,is6: 03.32. Kramer, a beast at this distance, won the race in 6:10.76, an Olympic record but not what he might have accomplished on crispe-rice. The Dutch swept all three medals in their specialty. Two other Americans, 17-yearold Emery Lehman and Jonathan Kuck, finished 16th and 19th, respectively. This is not the bes trace for the U.S. men, who are headlined by Shani Davis and expected to capture several speed skating medals at shorter distances. Although Meek skated a better time than several opponents he had never beaten before, he said he was disappointed with his placement. “If you don’t go for a medal, you might as well do it in your backyard,” he said. Still, there was some consolation. Meek said he planned to share a very humid beer after the race with his father. “I haven’t had an alcoholic beverage in 20- something months,” he said. “A lot of guys haven’t drunk in years, because if that’s what it takes to be at your best as an athlete, you do it.”