OBIHIRO, Japan (March 3, 2012) – Emery Lehman (Oak Park, Ill) continued to lead Team USA with a strong performance in today’s 5000m at the 2012 ISU Junior Long Track World Championships. Posting a time of 6:46.18, Lehman placed 5^th, finishing just 11.15 seconds back from today’s winner Sverre Lunde Pedersen (NOR) with a time of 6:35.03.

Team USA’s Chris Anderson (Fern Park, FL) skated a 7:14.66 to place 26^th, and Steven Hartman posted a 7:21.45 to take 28^th place.

With his 5^th place finish, Lehman finished 12^th in the Junior World Championship Allround standings and Anderson was 25^th. Pedersen was crowned 2012 Junior World Allround Champion.

Peredsen won today’s 1500m (1:49.14), Lehman skated 1:52.80 to take 16^th, Anderson posted a 1:57.65 for 38^th place, Andrew Astalos (Lakeport, MI) skated 1:58.21 for 42^nd place, Luke Tweddale (Madison, WI) had a time of 2:03.07 for 47^th place. Lehman placed 11^th in the 1500m Allround, and Anderson was 27^th.

Astalos finished 18^th for Team USA in today’s 500m with a time of 38.12.

Lehman had the top finish, 16^th (11^th in the Allround competition) for Team USA in today’s 1500m with a time of 1:52.80. 3.66 seconds back from Pedersen, winning the distance with 1:49.14. Anderson skated a 1:57.56 to take 38^th place (27^th in the Allround competition), Astalos posted 1:58.21 to finish 42^nd, and Tweddale was 47^th with a time of 2:03.07.

Petra Acker (Saratoga Springs, NY) skated a 1:22.03 for 18^th place in today’s 1000m, Jerica Tandiman (West Jordan, UT) posted 1:25.11 for 33^rd , Jaclyn Rowe (Wheaton, Ill.) had a time of 1:25.15 for 34^th place, and Hannah Curwin (Duluth, MN) skated a 1:25.34 to place 36^th. Japan’s Miho Takagi won the distance with a time of 1:17.69.

Curwin had the top finish for Team USA in the 3000m, 13^th  with a time of 4:27.36 (12^th in the Allround competition), Acker finished 16^th  at 4:32.40 (15^th in Allround competition), and Rowe was 31^st  with 4:43.49 (28^th in Allround competition). Do-Yeong Park (Korea) won the 3000m with a time of 4:08.48.

Miho Takagi (Japan) won the 2012 Allround Champion title, Acker finished 16^th , Curwin 25^th, and Rowe 30^th in Allround standings.

Extended results from today’s races in Obihiro are available at http://www.skatingjapan.jp/wcss2012/results.htm . The 2012 Junior Long Track World Championsips conclude tomorrow with the ladies 500m (2), men’s 100m and the ladies and men’s Team Pursuit events.