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Excitement building for World Cup qualifier
By Melissa Scott // USA Speedskating // October 20, 2005
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (October 19, 2005) – The best long track speedskaters in the U.S. are in Milwaukee gearing up for this weekend’s 2005 Fall World Cup Qualifier. The event will take place at the Pettit National Ice Center October 21-24.
All the medalists from the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games will be racing this weekend as well as those vying for a spot on the 2006 Winter Olympic Games medal podium. The events this weekend are crucial for the athletes as they inch their way closer to securing a spot on the Torino Olympic Games U.S. speedskating team.
There are various ways for U.S. speedskaters to pre-qualify for the 2006 Olympic Games prior to the U.S. Long Track National Championships. One way is through their performances in this year’s World Cups – thus making it essential for them to qualify for the World Cup team. (For more information, please visit www.usspeedskating.org/news/mediaservices.html and click on Long Track Cheat Sheet.)
Here’s a montage of some of the skaters competing this weekend:
KC Boutiette (Tacoma, WA) 1994, 1998, 2002 Olympian
Kip Carpenter (Brookfield, WI) 2002 SLC bonze medalist, 500m
Joey Cheek (Greensboro, NC) 2002 SLC bronze medalist, 1000m
Shani Davis (Chicago, IL) 2002 Olympian (short track), 2005 World Allround Champion
Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, WI) 2002 SLC gold medalist, 500m
Tucker Fredricks (Janesville, WI)2005 World Cup (Canada) 500m bronze medalist
Kreg Greer (Marquette, MI) 10000m Jr. American Record Holder
Chad Hedrick (Spring, TX) 2004 World Allround Champion, 5000m 2005 World Champion
Maria Lamb (River Falls, WI) 2005 U.S. National Allround Champion
Elli Ochowicz (Menlo Park, CA) 2002 Olympian
Derek Parra (Orlando, FL)2002 SLC gold & silver medalist, 1500m, 5000m
Erin Porter (Saratoga Springs, NY)1998, 2002 Olympian (short track)
Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, WI) 1998, 2002 Olympian
Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, FL) 2002 SLC bronze medalist, 1000m, 1500m, 2005 World Sprint Champion
Amy Sannes (St. Paul, MN) 1998, 2002 Olympian
Chris Witty (West Allis, WI) Summer/Winter Olympian, 2002 SLC gold medalist, 1000m
Schedule of events:
Friday, Oct. 21, 2004
10 - 10:15 500m ladies 8 pair
10:15 - 10:35 500m men 12 pair
11 - 11:20 1000m ladies 8 pair
11:20 - 11:50 1000m men 12 pair
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2004
9:45 - 10 500m ladies 8 pair
10 - 10:20 500m men 12 pair
10:45 - 11:09 1500m ladies 8 pair
11:10 - 11:40 1500m men 10 pair
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2004
9:30 - 10:05 3000m ladies 6 pair
10:30 - 11:35 5000m men 8 pair
Monday, Oct. 24, 2004
9:30 - 10:05 5000m ladies 4 pair
10:30 - 11:35 10,000m men 4 pair
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