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Illinois junior Jonathan Kuck still in line to earn an Olympic medal.

Illinois student Jonathan Kuck is finished with his heat in the 10,000 meters longtrack speedskating event. Kuck finished in 13 minutes, 31.78 seconds.

After five skaters, Kuck was in third place.

News you can't leave work without:

Illinois junior-to-be Jonathan Kuck made his Olympics debut Tuesday, finishing in eighth place — and tops among Americans — in the 10,000 meters longtrack speedskating event. On academic leave at Illinois, Kuck finished in 13 minutes, 31.78 seconds..

Isch term will end in the fall

The parents of Champaign speedskater Jonathan Kuck, Sharon and David, will check in periodically during the Vancouver Olympics.

This morning I awoke to a phone call from my daughter, Julianne. Disappointingly, her and her husband's flight had been canceled due to snow in Dallas. Now, I expect them on Sunday, two days late. However, nothing can put a true damper on my days here at the Olympic Games. Once morning fully arrived I could appreciate the stunning views out my windows of Boundary Bay. I can see the western edge of Washington and Canada from this shore at Point Roberts, Wash.

Fighting Illini basketball's T.J. Wheeler celebrates his 38th birthday today. The product of Buckner's Christopher High School was a tri-captain along with Deon Thomas and Tom Michael for the University of Illinois' 1993-94 squad.

I think this is a central theme that has made Katherine the success that she is. Many kind and giving folks in the C-U and St. Louis Speed skating community have given countless hours to give our children a chance to be a big part of the World.

Erik Henriksen, a 1975 graduate of Champaign Central High School, was a three-time Olympian in speedskating (1980-88). He finished as high as 11th in the 1,000 meters at the 1984 Olympics. In 1999, the three-time U.S. Sprint champion and two-time World Sprint Championships bronze medalist was voted into the Amateur Skating Union Hall of Fame. Henriksen currently lives in Mahomet.

Congratulations to you, Katherine, and to you, Jonathan, on being named to the 2010 United States Olympic Team. You are part of a great local tradition that began with Roger Capan back in 1968. We were last represented by women 16 years ago, and it is 22 years since Champaign sent a man to the Olympic Games. Thanks for breaking this drought! It was an honor and pleasure to have coached you early in your careers.