News Archive

December 11, 2003
Pettit To Host US Speedskating National Championships

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S Olympic Training Facility, will serve as the host for the 2003 United States Long Track Speed Skating Championships, December 20-23, 2003. The Championships will serve as a precursor to other speed skating events and the United States will crown national champions in a multitude of speed skating races.

The Long Track Championships, with racing starting on December 20th at 10am, will feature many notable names and Olympic medal winners. Some skaters you can expect to see at the Pettit are: Derek Parra, a 2002 Olympic Medallist, Verona, Wisconsin’s own gold medallist Casey FitzRandolph as well as multiple medal winner and hometown hero Chris Witty.

Below is a break down of the schedule of events that are all a part of the 2003 United States Long Track Championships.

December 18 – Press Conference for the 2003 Long Track Championships (to be held in the Pettit Center’s Hall of Fame Room) at 12:30pm. Coaches and skaters will be on-hand to talk about the upcoming Championships and their preparations for the 2006 Winter Olympics.

December 19 – The draw to determine racing groups will be held at the Pettit at 5pm

December 20 – Racing begins at 10am and continues until 2pm. Races on this day will include the 500 meters & the 1000 meters for the men and the women. A special public skating session will follow at 2pm; all fans that attended races that day get to skate for FREE. Local favorites Old Mil will be on-hand to put a rockin’ musical set from 6pm-10pm.

December 21 – Racing begins at 10am and continues until 2pm. The men and women will both race the 500 meters and the 1500 meters.

December 22 – It’s “School Day with US Speedskating” with racing starting at 10am and continuing until 2pm. Area school students will be on hand as the men skate the 1000 meters and the 5000 meters, while the women will skate the 1000 and the 3000 meters.

December 23 – The longer distances will be on display with racing starting at 8am and continuing until 12pm. The women will race the 5000 meters and the men the 10,000.

For media credentials to secure your spot at any of the weekend’s activities or for more information on the 2003 United States Long Track Speed Skating Championships contact Rob Multerer at the Pettit National Ice Center.

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