News Archive

February 17, 2005
U.S. National Short Track Championships To Feature The Top Male Skaters

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S. Olympic Training Facility, will serve as host for the 2005 U. S. National Short Track Championships, February 24 - 27 2005.

Starting off the U.S. Championships will be a media day with the World team and other Elite US Skaters. The media day is slated for Wednesday, February 23 at 11:30am at the Pettit National Ice Center. All media is welcome to attend and find out what is on deck for the U.S. Championships weekend at the Pettit. An elite team practice session will follow at 12pm.

Along with over 250 of the top short track skaters in the United States are all of the US Elite skaters, including the 2005 World Team. The best of the best will be skating at the Pettit Center, making for a great four-days.

Apolo Anton Ohno: The breakout star from the 2002 Olympics is still tearing up the International skating scene today. Originally from Seattle, WA, Ohno is the #1 ranked short track skater on the World Cup circuit. He was the 2004-05 World Cup champion. A gold and silver medallist at Salt Lake City in 2002, Ohno holds the American records in the 500-meters, 1500-meters and the 3000-meters.

Rusty Smith: A 1998 and 2002 U.S. Short Track Olympian, this native of Long Beach, CA took home a bronze medal in the 500-meters at the 2002 Winter Games. Smith is the American record-holder in the 1000-meters and is ranked 6th in the World Cup circuit.

Shani Davis: Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Davis may be the skater everyone will be talking about after the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. Davis is attempting to become the first US skater to compete in both short track and long track in the same Olympics. The first American male skater to make both World Teams in long and short track in the same year, Davis holds a world-record in long track's 1500-meters and was crowned the 2004 U.S. Allround Champion at the Pettit in December.

J.P. Kepka: A 2003 and 2004 World Team member, this St. Louis, MO native was also a 2002 Olympian. Kepka still holds the national junior record in the 500-meters and skated in two World Cups this past season.

One of the United States' strongest men's field ever will on be on display at the Pettit Center during the 2005 Championships making for a truly remarkable competition.

For more information on this competition, log onto www.thepettit.com. To reserve your spot at the 2005 US Championships or for a media credential to gain access to this top-level meet, please contact Rob Multerer at the Pettit National Ice Center by phone at: 414.266.0100, ext. 132 or by email at: rmulterer@thepettit.com

Contact: Rob Multerer
Director of Marketing
Pettit National Ice Center
414.266.0100, ext. 132
rmulterer@thepettit.com