News Archive

December 13, 2004
Pettit To Host US Speedskating Championships

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S Olympic Training Facility, will serve as host for the 2005 United States Long Track Speed Skating Championships, December 18-22, 2004. The Championships will serve as a precursor to other speed skating events across the globe as we move closer to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

U.S. Speedskating will crown national champions in a multitude of speed skating races at the Pettit Center, with racing starting on December 18th at 10am. This year’s Championships will feature many notable names and past Olympic medal winners. Some skaters you can expect to see at the Pettit are: Derek Parra, a 2002 Olympic Gold Medallist; Verona, Wisconsin’s own gold medallist Casey FitzRandolph; as well as multiple medal winner and hometown hero Chris Witty.

The US Championships will also feature such high-profile skaters as Joey Cheek, a 2002 Olympic bronze medallist; 2002 Olympic dual-bronze medallist, Jennifer Rodriquez; as well as countless other skaters. Wisconsin will be well represented with many competing skaters who hail from America’s Dairyland.

Below you will find a schedule of events that are all a part of the 2005 United States Long Track Championships. Tickets are $5 each day and the event is open to the general public.

December 18 – Racing gets underway at 10am with the ladies racing 500 meters and 3000 meters, while the men will race 500 meters and 5000 meters.

December 19 – Day 2 kicks off at 10am, the ladies will skate the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters and the men will skate 1500 meters and 5000 meters. At the conclusion of Sunday’s races, a mens and ladies AllRound champ will be crowned.

December 21 – Racing begins at 10am and continues until 2pm with the Sprint Races taking center stage; the men and women will both skate 500 meters and 1000 meters.

December 22 – The US Championships conclude on Wednesday with the 500 meters and 1000 metes finals for both the ladies and the men. The Overall Sprint Title will also be awarded to the top male and female competitor.

For media credentials to secure your spot at any of the weekend’s activities or for more information about the 2005 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