Fans filled the stands this time as the first two winners were crowned at the U.S. Olympic speed skating trials at the Pettit National Ice Center.
Four years ago Casey Dawson came to U.S. Olympic speed skating team trials at a quiet Pettit National Ice Center that was left virtually empty by COVID pandemic restrictions.
He earned a spot in the Beijing Olympics, but almost nothing else in Dawson’s story played out the way he would have written it.
This time the place was rocking as he won the 5,000 meters, a good sign for his path ahead in Milan.
“I’m a lot stronger this year, but also COVID was another experience,” Dawson said after his victory Jan. 2 on the first day of the U.S. long track trials.
“I actually got COVID two or three weeks before going to the competition, tested positive for 50 straight tests, couldn’t go over. I missed opening ceremonies, missed the 5,000 meters. Showed up 12 hours before my 1,500 meters.
“So I got a little screwed over from that point of view, but this time around, I’m just looking forward to getting there smoothly and just getting a little bit of redemption. It’s kind of fun to have my villain arc, I would call it, just coming back and having some fun.”
The 25-year-old from Park City, Utah, executed a consistent, comfortable race as he had hoped and covered the distance in 6 minutes 12.875 to beat team pursuit teammate Ethan Cepuran, by 6.482 seconds.
Dawson, a World Cup winner in the 5,000 meters in Calgary, will race more during this four-day weekend. Then he’ll train and work to stay healthy over the five weeks until competition begins on the temporary Milano Speed Skating Stadium surface.
“We learned a lot since the COVID pandemic,” Dawson said. “Just taking all my vitamins, taking the right precautions of who I hang out with to try to keep a little bit bubble of myself and close relatives. They’re going to Milan as well to cheer me on. If we need a mask we might have to dust those off and bring them out again.”
Dawson was the only athlete to qualify for the Olympics during the first night of the trials, although he already had qualified for the 10,000 meters based on his World Cup results.
The trials are not exactly a win-and-you’re-in proposition, as the United States has multiple quota spots in some events and none in others as well as a maximum of eight slots for men and six for women.
But even those numbers aren’t hard and fast. Although the United States does not have a quota spot for the women’s 3,000 meters, winner Greta Myers is the first alternate and could compete in the event if another country does not use all its slots.
“I’ve executed [races] better, but I got the job done, and I’m pleased to have secured the first reserve spot,” said Myers, a 21-year-old former hockey player from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, who has medaled in two World Junior Championships.
“It’s hard to wait, but I’m very hopeful. … And I think it’s a good start to the Olympic trials weekend. I still have the 1,000 tomorrow, the 1,500 on Sunday and then the mass start on Monday. So hopefully I won’t have to wait and maybe I’ll know in the next couple days. That would be the goal.”
Myers, skating in the final pair, finished in 4:06.799 and edged the 4:08.652 of Giorgia Birkeland, who skated alone to start the competition.
How did Wisconsin skaters fare on Day 1 of the Olympic trials?
Piper Yde, 19, of Nashota was lukewarm on her time in her first event of the weekend but plenty happy about placing third and thrilled with the overall experience of competing in front of a crowd larger than any she had before.
“I just wanted to have fun at this Olympic trials because I know that my chances are so slim, so just getting a chance to skate in front of my family and friends was the bigger thing for me and just having fun, skating in front of the crowd and soaking it all in,” said Yde, who finished third in the 3,000 in 4:37.426.
“[My legs] felt heavy with, like, three to go, or four to go, but those last two laps were a bit of a push. I had to keep the tempo up and try as best as I could.”
Yde, a three-time participant in the World Junior Championships, expects to have about 30 aunts, uncles and cousins on hand later in the weekend.
Jonathan Tobon, a 22-year-old Milwaukee native and Marquette High School graduate, finished fifth in the 5,000 in 6:43.317.
“I was looking forward to the weekend, but today I was looking just to get into the skating because Saturday and Sunday are my big days, the 1,000 and the 1,500,” Tobon said. “So just looking for a good solid start for the weekend and I think I got that today.
“I can only speak for myself, but this being my hometown, it brings me a lot of pride to be able to skate the trials for the second time here in Milwaukee and to really show my family and friends what this sport means to me and what it means to other skaters in this country.”
Coming Dec. 3 at the Pettit Center
The Olympic trials continue at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, with the 1,000 meters for both women and men. Tickets for the session are sold out.
All attention will be on Jordan Stolz of Kewaskum, although as the World Cup leader he already is locked into one of the two quota spots for Milan as long as he starts his race.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Casey Dawson, Greta Myers win at Pettit Center Olympic trials Day 1
Category: General Sports
