SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Gloria Bogacki said she just 'hoped to skate well' and Steve Merrifield wasn't even listed as a contender but the two easily captured gold medals Wednesday in the finals of the men's and women's 1,000-meter indoor speedskating finals to complete sweeps in their respective divisions at the National Sports Festival.
Bogacki, a ponytailed, 18-year-old from Park Ridge, Ill., was last after three laps, but charged to the lead in the fourth and was never headed.
She won in a time of 1:59.13. Lydia Stephans, of Northbrook, Ill., was second and Becky Mane, of Milwaukee, took home the bronze.
Bogacki, who captured four gold medals in indoor speedskating at the 1979 Sports Festival at Colorado Springs, won the 500-meter and 1,500-meter events Tuesday night and anchored the winning East team that took the gold in Wednesday's 3,000-meter women's relay in 6:27.52.
Merrifield, 26, a motorcyle racer from Canoga Park, Calif., led from start to finish in his 1,000-meter event to win in 1:48.44. Marty Pierce, of St. Francis, Wis., won the silver and David Pavlacic, of Florissant, Mo., took home the bronze.
Bogacki finished eighth in world competition this year but said she surprised herself with her perfect showing since she was coming off a leg injury last winter. Her leg was in a brace and immobilized for 2 months.
'I just hoped to skate well,' said Bogacki.
Merrifield thought he would do well but was not considered contender entering the meet.
However, the top entrant -- Paul Jacobs, 19, of Park Ridge, Ill. -- was disqualified from competition earlier this week, opening up the field.
The Midwest team, anchored by Merrifield, took the gold medal in the men's 5,000-meter relay in 8:25.24.
