The Downriver region will be well represented in Sochi, Russia when the speed skating portion of the games get underway.

Melvindale native Jessica Smith was the top qualifier for all three short track events, and Woodhaven resident Jilleanne Rookard won the 3000-meter long track event to qualify for her second Olympiad.

The Favorite

Smith was a favorite to make the team in the 1500-meter event, posting the top time among all American skaters during the fall World Cup competitions. She owns the U.S. record for the 500-meter event.

No one expected her to be as dominant as she was during the trials, though. Smith won both time trial events, and then five of the six races on the weekend. She swept two races each in the 500 and 1500 distances, and won one of the two 1000-meter races. She was second in the other 1000 race.

“Olympic trials are officially over. It has been a long weekend and I couldn’t be happier,” Smith posted on her Facebook page. “I have earned a spot in every distance at the games and I am extremely excited to represent the Stars and Stripes.

“Thank you to my family, friends, and everyone that has been a part of this journey. All of your support and kind words have been nothing but inspiration. My dream of becoming an Olympian is finally a reality. Thank you for believing in me. This is just one step before the final stop. Sochi, here I come.”

Smith had fallen just short of qualifying for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. She was an alternate, but did not get to compete.

Smith paved her road to Sochi with the support of many friends and family that were able to fly to Utah to support her in person.

Rick Smith, Jessica’s father, said that in addition to her mother, Reina, three sisters, a brother, her fiancé and two nieces all made the trip. Rick was unable to go, instead he stayed at the family home in Melvindale surrounded by large groups of friends and family all weekend.

“She’s basically by herself out there all the time,” Rick said. “The group from home to watch her compete kind of boosted her up.”

The moment he saw his daughter cross the finish line on TV, securing her spot in the Olympics, is one that Rick won’t ever forget.

“It was like winning the World Series,” he said “My stomach has been flipping for two weeks prior to these trials.”

Rick, Reina and their son, Travis, will all be traveling to Sochi to watch Jessica compete. The trip is expected to cost up to $40,000 for the three weeks the games run.

The hotel room costs $8,000 per person, and airfare is another $2,000 each. Then there are costs related to tickets to each event, food and any other expenses that pop up.

For the Smiths, living on the modest wages of Rick’s truck driving and Reina’s skills as a barber, the cost is way more than they can afford.

“They said that Sochi is the most expensive Olympics ever,” Rick said. “We just happen to be going to that one.”

A site was set up to help the Smiths bear the financial burden. Anyone wishing to help out can donate at Youcaring.com/other/olympic-dreams-come-true-/122826.

“We’re not looking for a handout,” Rick said. “We’ve saved for a long time to be able to do this, but at the same time this is getting into the type of money you put away for retirement. The opening ceremony is on my birthday even.”

The Surprise

Rookard was a bit of a shock to make the team, after nearly quitting the sport about a year ago.

Tragedy in her personal life shortly before the 2010 games left Rookard in a state of depression that slowly got the best of her. Eventually she left Team USA just before the World Championships last year.

The tragedy was losing her mother, Claire, to cancer.

Rookard was away from the sport about four months, and then moved to Norway to train with 1976 Olympic champion Peter Mueller.

“To have some ultra-fast females, it’s really inspiring and motivating and it gets your nerves up,” Rookyard said.

Rookard won her 3000-meter race in 4:09.66, nearly four seconds ahead of her closest competition. She placed 12th in the 2010 Olympics in the same event. She was 24th in the 1500 meter at those games, but will not be competing at that distance again.