News Archive

December 24, 2003
US Speedskating Wraps Up National Championships

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S Olympic Training Facility, just completed hosting the 2004 United States Long Track Speedskating National Championships from December 20-23. The national competition crowned US champions that will compete in a multitude of world qualifiers and international championships over the course of 2004 and 2005.

When it comes down to it, some Wisconsin skaters did a great job in the sprints (500 & 1000 meter races) to make their way onto the 2004 Unites States World Sprint Team. Headlining for the men is Verona, Wisconsin’s Casey FitzRandolph, who claimed his fifth overall US Sprint title with wins in both the 500 & 1000 meters. Joining FitzRandolph on the men’s World Sprint Team are Kip Carpenter of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Nick Pearson of Vernon, Wisconsin and Greensboro, North Carolina’s 2002 bronze medallist Joey Cheek.

On the women’s side, former Waukesha, Wisconsin resident Elli Ochowicz had a perfect record in the four sprint events at the US Championships to claim the women’s title and a spot on the ladies World Sprint Team. Rounding out the 2004 Sprint Team are Amy Sannes, Julie Glass and Jennifer Rodriguez, who was already pre-qualified for the World Sprints based on her current World Cup standings. Both the men’s and the women’s US Sprint Teams will compete next in the World Sprint Championships, which will take place January 17 & 18, 2004 in Nagano, Japan.

Another Wisconsin skater that did remarkably well at the US Championships was Catherine Raney who took home the women’s Allround title after posting the best cumulative point total of 169.691 for the 500, 1500, 3000 and 5000 meters races. The 2004 title was the third Allround championship of Raney’s career. Sara Elliott of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin placed second overall in the Allround standings and will join Raney along with Kristine Holzer, Maria Lamb of River Falls, Wisconsin, Eva Rodansky and Katie Krall on the US Allround team.

Shani Davis was the men’s Allround champion and will take his spot on the US Allround team after being a 2002 Short Track Olympian. Joining Davis on the squad is Chad Hedrick, Clay Mull, KC Boutiette, Chris Callis and Derek Parra. Both the men’s and women’s Allround Teams will compete next at the North American/Oceania Regional Qualifier, January 17 & 18, 2004 at the Calgary Olympic Oval. That event serves as the qualifier for the World Allround Speedskating Championships in Hamar, Norway, February 7 & 8, 2004.

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