News Archive

December 16, 2003
Top Male Speed Skaters To Take To Pettit’s Oval

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. US Speedskating will be crowning National Champions at the Pettit.

The Long Track Championships, with racing starting on December 20th at 10am, will feature many notable names, past Olympic medal winners and many Wisconsin-born skaters. Below is a break down of some of the male long track speed skaters that will compete at the Pettit National Ice Center as part of the Long Track Championships.

Casey FitzRandolph- Verona, Wisconsin’s native son is currently the U.S. National Long Track Sprint Champion. Casey currently holds the current American record in the 500 meters (34.42) and won a gold medal in the 500 meters at the 2002 Olympics and was also a participant in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.

Kip Carpenter- Kip, who is a 1998 Brookfield Central graduate, was a 2002 U.S. Olympian and took home a bronze medal in the 500 meters at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He also was 8th overall at the 2002 and the 2003 World Sprint Championships and was 4th overall at the 2001 U.S. Sprint Championships.

Derek Parra- Derek, who spent time living and training in Milwaukee, won the overall title at the 2003 World Cup event in Erfurt, Germany. He placed 2nd at the 2003 World Cup in the 1500 meters and was a 2002 Olympian. At the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Game, Derek won a 1500 meter gold medal and a 5000 meter silver medal. Derek recently finished penning a new book titled Reflections in the Ice, which details the heart and mind of the Olympic Champion.

Nick Pearson- A 2002 Olympian from Vernon, Wisconsin, placed 6th in the 1000 and the1500 meters at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Nick was 1st overall at the 2000 U.S. Sprint Championships and was also the top finisher overall at the1999 U.S. Junior Speedskating Championships.

Joey Cheek- Joey took home a 1000-meter bronze medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. He is currently the American record holder in the 1000 meters (1:07.61) and was 5th overall in the 2003 World Sprint Championships.

Tucker Fredericks- An up and comer from Janesville, Wisconsin, Tucker was 1st in the 500 meters at the 2003 World Junior Speed Skating Championships. He placed 3rd in the 500 meters at the 2002 World Junior Speed Skating Championships, was 1st overall at the 2002 U.S. Junior Speed Skating Championships and also was 1st overall at the 2003 U.S. Junior Speedskating Championships.

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