Ohno, Celski duel it out at short track Olympic trials

Apolo Anton Ohno and J.R. Celski (left and center, above, with teammate Jordan Malone), the two Seattle homeboys with arguably the best chances to snare a medal at the 2010 Winter Games, are going head to head all week in Marquette, Mich., where the U.S. Short Track Olympic Trials are under way today.

The event began with a 1,000-meter time trial, wherein Celski, setting an American record, beat Ohno by more than half a second.

It wasn't the first time. Celski out-dueled the soul-patched Seattle celeb -- known also for winning TV's "Dancing With the Stars," at the short track world championships in March, finishing second overall and winning gold medals in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meter relay and bronze medals in the 1,000 and 1,500.

Does Ohno, now a cagey veteran at 27, have what it takes to stay with the world's young legs? We'll get some indication this week. (Don't read that much into the time-trial result; all the skaters know it's but a warmup to the main races.)

It'll be a fascinating meet, with Celski, 19, who just came into his own on the international senior circuit last season, going head to head with Ohno, 27, his former idol. Both grew up in Federal Way and began their athletic careers as inline skaters.

Ohno, of course, went on to five Olympic medals at Salt Lake and Turin, tying him with long-track legend Eric Heiden as the most-decorated U.S. male WInter Olympic athlete (overall title: Bonnie Blair, with six.) Celski is hoping to make his first Olympic mark just up the road in Vancouver. And if the end of last season and the beginning of this one is an indication, he's peaking at just the right time.

Find a nice look at Celski, and his thoughts about competing against Ohno, in this Universal Sports piece by Meri-Jo Borzilleri.

Ohno, standing out in a new red, white and blue speed suit, was upbeat tonight.

"Not a bad start," he typed on his Twitter feed after the time trial. "Good thing races and time trials are two separate things. No time trials in the Olympics....pushing onward for tomorrow!"

Stay tuned to Seattletimes.com and this blog throughout the week for updates. We'll be back at the Olympic Media Summit in Chicago and unable to attend the short-track trials, but will have results and comments from the skaters in coming days.

Much is at stake at the trials. At the end of the week, based on total results, five men and five women will be selected to move on to compete in four World Cup events prior to the 2010 Games, which begin in February. If the U.S. qualifies a relay team for the Olympics, all 10 of those skaters will go. If not, the U.S. will send the top three men and women based on World Cup results. The final squad will be named after the fourth World Cup race in mid-November.

In other words: You can increase your standing and qualify for the events of your choosing in race competitions after this week. But failure this week is not an option. If you're not in the top five, you stay home.

AP photos: (top) J.R. Celski of Federal Way, center, stands on the medal stand with Apolo Anton Ohno, left, and Jordan Malone, right, after the 000-meter trial at the U.S. short track speedskating championships; (lower) Celski on the ice.