Eleven-year-old Lake Tapps speed skater becomes juvenile national champion

A Lake Tapps 11-year-old became a national inline speed skating champion after medaling in six events in Colorado Springs. Corinne "Corie" Stoddard took three gold, two silver, and one bronze in six juvenile girls events at the USA Roller Sports 2012 Inline Speed Skating Outdoor National Championship, held Aug. 4-10. She also achieved two new records in her races.

"I've never seen such a big grin on her face," mother Vicki Stoddard said.

The Emerald Hills fifth grader has been dedicated to the sport since age six, when her physical education teacher ran a class demonstration.

Corie began competing at age seven and, from the seeds of that introduction, Corie and her parents cultivated a rigorous practice schedule: five two-hour sessions after school per week. She trains with veteran speedskating coaches, including five-time world champion Vicki Keen, former Korean National Long Track Team coach Chang Ho Lee, and Mike Pattison of Pattison's Team Extreme out of Federal Way. Her regimen includes indoor inline, outdoor inline and ice skating.

Corinne zoomed ahead of hundreds of girls in her age group to qualify for her six events.

She earned her gold medals in the 500-meter sprint on a road course, the 300-meter time trial on a track course, and the 2000-meter points race on a track course. Her silvers were in the 500 sprint on a track course, and the 200-meter time trial on the road. Her Bronze was in the 2000 Points race on the road.

"She's hopefully going to compete on ice this year," father Paul Stoddard said. "She'll have short and long track competitions in January and February."

Contact Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald Reporter Daniel Nash at dnash@courierherald.com or 360-825-2555 ext. 5060.

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