Sannes placed third with a time of 1:16:86 in the 1,000 meter race in Saturday’s 2006 U.S. Championships. She finished behind Jennifer Rodriguez and Chris Witty, who crossed the line 1-2. It was the same finish as in the U.S. Long Track Speed Skating Championships in February. 
The Winter Olympics are set for February 10-26 in Torino, Italy. The competition will be the third Olympics for Sannes, who competed in the 1998 and 2002 games. She finished in eighth place in the 1,500 meters at the 2002 Olympics.
Sannes, a member of Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton, Minnesota, attended Minnehaha Academy. She is the daughter of Carl and Peggy Sannes.
Sannes has distinguished herself throughout her skating career:
- 1996 -First overall in the U.S. Junior Speed Skating Championships
- 1999, 2000, 2001 – Third in the overall U.S. Sprint Championships
- 2001 – Tied for ninth overall in U.S. Spring Championships
- 2002 – Fourth in 1,000 meter World Sprint Championships
Sannes began speed skating in 1988 after seeing the Calgary Olympics on television, including a clip on local speed skaters. Her athletic prowess extended to other sports during her childhood. She played recreational hockey as a youth and competed in soccer and track and field during high school, earning all-conference honors in both sports.
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