Jilleanne Rookard of the United States competes during the Women's 3000m

 Speed Skating event during Day 2 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. 

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

SOCHI, Russia -- A mishap early in the first short track race of the Olymipcs has left Jessica Smith of Melvindale outside of the medal hunt in the 500 meter event.
Smith, 30, fell on the first lap, apparently after her skate made contact with one of Valeriya Reznik's (Russia) skates. Judges decided not to change the outcome of the race, which is within their discretion to do after an accident on the ice.
“I went to push and my foot got kicked out from under me. The next thing I know I was on the ground,” Smith told the Associated Press. “It happens.”
Smith still has chances to medal in the 1,000m and 1,500m distances.
Downriver's other Olympic speedskater also failed to medal in her only event of the games. Jilleanne Rookard, 31, of Woodhaven skated in the 3,000 meter event. She made the finals, but finished 10th, about seven seconds behind gold-medalist, Olga Graf (Russia).
“I was having a fun time out there,” Rookard, told USA Today. “This is what it’s supposed to feel like. This is the fun part. The most stress is just qualifying for the event.”
Rookard had finished 12th in the same event in the 2010 Olympics.