"It's definitely a huge leap in my career," he said.
Yet the 16-year-old earned the promotion with his work pacing the women in workouts, and will attempt to build on it starting today, when the World Cup circuit makes its final stop of the season at the Utah Olympic Oval. Athletes from around the world will compete in preparation for the World Short Track Championships next month in Korea - and beyond.
"This is just another stepping stone," skater Jordan Malone said, "and then, world championships is, of course, another stepping stone" on the way to the 2010 Vancouver Games.
The Koreans have dominated the short-track season again, having won 33 of 40 men's and women's individual races at three distances, while the Americans have brought home only seven medals - none gold - combined.
But seven of the dozen members of the team that will compete this weekend are in their first season with the national team, and two others are in only their second and third years.
"It says so much for us all that . . . we have this level" of success, "and it's only our first try," skater Katherine Reutter said.
Veteran superstar Apolo Anton Ohno will compete after making his international season debut last weekend at the World Cup stop in Quebec City, Canada - where Cho made his career debut. Ohno was disqualified in the 1,500-meter heats and fell in the 1,000 semifinals, but said his preparation was "right where it needs to be."
mcl@sltrib.com
At the Olympic Oval, Kearns
Friday, 9:30 a.m.
Preliminaries and heats
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Men's and women's 1,500 final
Men's and women's 500 final
Men's 5,000 relay semifinals
Women's 3,000 relay semifinals
Sunday, 3 p.m.
Men's and women's 500 final
Men's and women's 1,000 final
Men's 5,000 relay final
Women's 3,000 relay final
