Ohno Joins Celski, Cho in Qualifying for 5,000 Relay Final

Asian U.S. Team: Ohno is one of 3 Asian Americans on the 5,000-meter relay team.

Apolo Anton Ohno has easily advanced through the preliminaries of 1,000-meter short track, staying on course to surpass Bonnie Blair as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian.

After skating his individual race Wednesday, Ohno helped the United States advance to the 5,000 relay final with a second-place finish in its semifinal heat.

Ohno, who won his sixth Olympic medal in the 1,500 Saturday, was third most of the way in the 1,000. Then, in the closing laps, he moved up to second before taking the lead over China’s Liang Wenhao.

Ohno then joined J.R. Celski, Simon Cho and Travis Jayner in qualifying for the 5,000 relay final on Saturday.

The Americans finished second to South Korea in their heat. France was advanced into the final by the referees after an Italian skater lost his balance in a turn and took out a French skater, putting both teams hopelessly behind.

2/17/2010 9:55 PM BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer VANCOUVER, British Columbia