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Kearns • Katherine Reutter was in middle of answering a question of how the inexperienced U.S. short-track speedskating team can close the gap on the world's powerhouses when two former proteges walked by.
They represented the U.S. at the Junior World Championships two years ago, and their coach was Reutter, the two-time Olympic medalist, who at the time was retired.
The 28-year-old delved into her trove of stories. She spoke of how the young up-and-coming Americans joined her in a stair workout routine after that grueling week of those championships two years ago. Watching them motivated her to kick the tires on what has become an impressive comeback for what was one of the most-talented short-track skaters in the world five years ago.
"She had it," they said. "She had it."
"I was so close," Reutter responded.
On the surface, her sixth-place finish Sunday in the women's 1,500-meter World Cup final at the Utah Olympic Oval isn't a result worthy of jumping jacks. But it's Reutter, who returned to the ice six months ago after five years off, who is pacing an American team that now needs to look up to a proven skater who has been there and done it.
"Success breeds success," said U.S. coach Alex Izykowski. "She brings a level to the team that we're all going to strive to be. It starts with her, and it's going to translate to our whole team."
In the first two World Cup stops of the year, Reutter already has three final appearances. But the medals have been out of her grasp. In Sunday's 1,500-meter final, Reutter was on the inside track, taking an early lead, before eventually dropping to second. As the race tightened, however, she made a mistake. Instead of utilizing the speed she had to pass on the outside, she tried to stay in.
The Korean trio of Shim Suk Hee, Kim Jiyoo and Noh Do Hee took advantage, and took the top three podium positions.
"For a chemical reaction to happen, there has to be catalyst that puts it over the edge," Reutter said. "I feel like I'm right below the threshold. I don't know what it is that's gotta click, but I know that when I get there, the game's going to change."
The Americans hope that catalyst permeates throughout the entire team. The U.S. snagged just one World Cup medal this weekend on its home ice when John-Henry Krueger won bronze in the men's 1,500-meter final Saturday evening. Only Reutter and Krueger appeared in finals the entire weekend.
Izykowski believes his team is on the right track to make more finals and possibly start a streak of World Cup podium finishes.
"We're looking to close the gaps on the rest of the world and be more competitive every chance we can," he said.
What is advertised as the fastest ice on earth, the Oval played host to 49 national records as well as five world records set over the weekend, including two Sunday.
Elise Christie of Great Britain set the women's 500-meter record in her quarterfinal heat with a time of 42.335. Christie eventually finished fourth in the 500-meter final when her slide out resulted in an injury to her lower right leg.
Sjinkie Knegt of the Netherlands set a record in the men's 1,500-meter final with a time of 2:07.943.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
ISU short-track World Cup
Utah Olympic Oval, Kearns
Women's 500-meter final
1. Marianne St.-Gelais, CAN, 43.059
2. Choi Minjeong, KOR, 43.244
3. Fan Kexin, CHN, 43.249
Men's 500-meter final
1. Abzal Azhgaliyev, KAZ, 40.373
2. Tianyu Han, CHN, 40.419
3. Charles Hamelin, CAN, 46.260
Women's 1,500-meter final
1. Shim Suk Hee, KOR, 2:22.384
2. Kim Jiyoo, KOR, 2:22.837
3. Noh Do Hee, KOR, 2:22.954
Men's 1-500 meter final
1. Sjinkie Knegt, NED, 2:07.943 (world record)
2. Jung-Su Lee, KOR, 2:08.646
3. Semen Elistratov, RUS, 2:08.655
Women's 3,000-meter relay
1. Korea, 4:05.149
2. Netherlands, 4:06.320
3. Canada, 4:13.833
Men's 5,000-meter relay
1. China, 6:48.078
2. Netherlands, 6:48.381
3. Kazakhstan, 6:48.444.