The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S Olympic Training Facility, just wrapped up U.S. Speedskating’s Fall World Cup Qualifier by recording five new facility records.
In an unprecedented four-days of races, skaters topped their personal bests on the Pettit’s Olympic Oval. Even more impressive, all five distances raced by the men set new Pettit Center track records.
Starting off the record-breaking weekend on Friday, October 21, was Chicago, Illinois’ Shani Davis. Davis clocked in at 1(minute).09(seconds).14 (tenths of seconds) in the 1000-meter, besting his own mark set at the Pettit Center in December 2004.
The next record to fall was in the 500-meter on Saturday, October 22. Verona, Wisconsin’s Casey FitzRandolph took home the top spot with a blistering time of 35.56 seconds. The 2002 Olympic Gold medallist was blazing on the ice as he broke a 500-meter record that stood for only 10 months and was set by his U.S. teammate and Janesville, Wisconsin’s Tucker Fredricks.
Also on Saturday, Shani Davis was back at it again, this time in the 1500-meter. In an Olympics-worthy pairing, Davis, the 2005 speed skating world allround champion, went head-to-head with Chad Hedrick, the 2004 speed skating world allround champ. In a race that could prove to be a 2006 Winter Games preview, Davis raced across the line in 1.46.44 and Hedrick at 1.47.02. This race marked the second track record set by Davis in as many days.
As the competition moved to the longer distances, so did the record-breaking performances. Next on the list Sunday, October 23 was the 5000-meter. Chad Hedrick, who just missed a record in the 1500, set out to knock off a 5 ½ year-old track record and did just that. Hedrick, of Spring, Texas, shattered the old mark in the 5000-meter and glided his way to a 6.24.24 new Pettit Center track record.
Just when it seemed all the excitement had ended, Hedrick came around for one last hurrah on Monday, October 24. Again paired with Shani Davis, this time in the 10,000-meters, Hedrick got the better of his U.S. Teammate by setting the new Pettit Center mark of 13.22.93.
There were many notable performances during the Fall World Cup Qualifier, showing the incredible depth of skaters for the U.S., especially on the men’s side. Expect to see more Pettit Center track records broken during the Essent ISU World Cup on November 26 & 27.
For more information on the 2005 Fall World Cup Qualifier or results, 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
