Races are held on a 111-meter track laid out within a standard hockey rink. There are four events each for men and women: 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters, and the relays (5,000 for men, 3,000 for women). Unlike long-track races, which are decided by the fastest time, short-track skaters go head-to-head in a pack format, leading to furious competition that has been described as roller derby on ice. Although some degree of contact is inevitable, skaters can be disqualified for a range of fouls that include impeding, cross-tracking (cutting someone off) and kicking out (when a skater’s blades interfere with another). In the relays, skaters tag in and out trying to keep fresh legs on the ice and set up the strongest competitor to be out for the final lap.
The Associated Press
