KEARNS, Utah -- Skaters know theyre not going to be posting the same times early in the ISU World Cup season as they will later on, but theres the hope of getting off to a good start.The United States had three men and two women advance to the elimination rounds of the ISU World Cup short track speed skating session Friday.Last week I really wanted to be top 16 and it went way better than that, two-time Olympic medalist Katherine Reutter said. This week I think I can be a little more hopeful. Id be really happy if I was in the top eight, but I wouldnt be upset if I was in the top 12. ... Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.The season is long. ... The way you race in November may have almost nothing to do with how you race in March. ... I know things can come and go really quickly.Keith Carroll Jr. moved on to the semifinal in the 1,500 meters (2:13.153) and 1,000 despite being taken out in the 1,000. Carroll Jr., however, fell during the 5,000-meter relay to take the U.S. out of contention. Teammate John-Henry Krueger advanced in both 1,500 divisions.Being here at home, I want to have a good showing, Carroll said. The relay event, I definitely feel like were one of the faster teams. We can keep up with anyone. It was really disappointing to go down in the first round like that.Individually, my No. 1 goal is always try to get through this first day and qualify for the World Cup round. ... Saturday and Sunday will be ultra-competitive. I just want to have a really good showing.Reutter starred for the women by qualifying in both the 1,000 (1:31.166) and 1,500 (2:25.940).Ryan Pivirotto and Jessica Kooreman both qualified for the 1,500 semifinals.China, South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan and Canada all had strong days on the mens side as they advanced in the 5,000 relay and had all four members of the team move on in at least one other event.Today went pretty decent, U.S. mens coach Anthony Barthell said. Had a couple guys that I thought would make it through the first round, but didnt make it. But it was a good learning experience.(The goal was) to try to have as many people in the quarterfinals and semis as possible. Right now were on track for four. So thats good.The Chinese and Canadian women both advanced in the 3,000 relay and had each member advance in at least one other event.This event is the second of six ISU World Cups this season. Balenciaga Triple s Australia . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Cheap Nike Air Max 95 Australia . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. http://www.salenikeshoesaustralia.com/air-force-1-clearance.html . PETERSBURG, Fla. Balenciaga Australia . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Air Max 90 Australia . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. Then there were two races to go in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. I hope its been profitable, fun and spiritually fulfilling. Im going to assume that it was.Before we move on, lets take a look back at Texas. Hey, look who was all over the top of the DraftKings points chart! Three of the top four and four of the top seven points earners drove a Gibbs -- or a Gibbs-affiliated -- machine.Carl Edwards won the race, being out front when the race was shortened due to rain, after it had been delayed several hours due to rain. But he just finished third in fantasy points, behind Joey Logano, who dominated with 178 laps led, and Martin Truex Jr., with another top-notch race on a 1.5-mile track.Hopefully you got on board with my top midvalue pick in Kasey Kahne, who started 31st and finished eighth. He didnt lead a lap or register a fastest lap, but that day was good for 59 points, fifth-best in the field.This week, we make a visit to Phoenix, a flat one-mile track that we have already visited this season, but way back in March.Unlike other short tracks, the laps here are somewhat limited, the race is scheduled for 312 laps, as opposed to a mile-long track like Dover, where theyll run 400. So you wouldnt expect to see big numbers for laps led here, and thats true to a point, but more on that in a minute.The other point to focus on is that passing is tough at the track, and the rear of the field will be nearly a lap down when the race begins. Therefore, youll want to grab some of the starters in the front of the field for your own benefit.Four of the top five average scoring starting positions at Phoenix are one, two, three and four. Earlier this season, Gibbs cars started 1-2-3, and they finished 2-3-4.Who was one, you might ask?Im starting my team with...This is the easiest move Ill make all year, but Kevin Harvick is as good at Phoenix as any driver is at any track right now. During the past three seasons, there have been five races at Phoenix. Harvick has beeen the highest-scoring fantasy driver in all of them.ddddddddddddNo driver besides Harvick has broken the 100-point barrier in a single race. Harvick has AVERAGED 147.2 points per race. The next highest mark is 51.5 points per race. There have been 1,468 laps run at Phoenix in those five races. Harvick has led 994 of them.I think Ive made my point that will earn you points.Keep an eye on these four...Kyle Busch: Busch led 75 laps at Phoenix earlier this season and has finished fourth in the past two Phoenix races. Hes shown he can also put big numbers for laps led up at Phoenix, putting up 113 in the 2010 spring race and 237 in the 2012 Chase race. Hes also the leading points earner on flatter, shorter tracks this season.Carl Edwards: Edwards already has his spot in the Championship Round all locked up, so it remains to see how aggressive hell be at Phoenix. But if it takes the pressure off, it could lead to another strong Phoenix race. He finished second at Phoenix earlier this year, leading 65 laps with 39 fastest laps. Hes a two-time winner at the track, as well.Ryan Blaney: Blaney has only run one Cup race at Phoenix, finishing 10th earlier this season. He continues to run around the mid-$7,000s in cost, but he has the upside of a top-10 finish. Hes finished in the top 20 in three of the past four races on shorter flat tracks. And hes on a run of four straight top-20 finishes overall, regardless of track type.Landon Cassill: Cassill has been a solid low-cost fantasy play this season, more than just rounding out your roster. He finished 25th at Phoenix earlier this season, his first race there with Front Row Motorsports. If he didnt start 27th -- he often starts lower in the field -- hed earn more than 27 points.Thats all I have for you this week. We dont get out to the Southwest often, so enjoy some TexMex this week. ' ' '
