At a Glance
- Casey Dawson wins U.S. 5,000-meter trials in 6:12.857, earning a Milan Cortina spot.
- Dawson missed the same race in Beijing due to COVID-19.
- Jordan Stolz, a top U.S. skater, will compete in the 1,000-meter trials and is pre-qualified.
- Why it matters: The U.S. long-track roster for Milan is shaping up, with key athletes securing berths.
In a dramatic finish at the U.S. Olympic trials, long-track speedskater Casey Dawson claimed the 5,000-meter title in 6:12.857, securing a berth for the Milan Cortina Games and marking a redemption after missing the event in Beijing due to COVID-19.
Dawson’s Redemption Run
Dawson won the 5,000-meter race in 6:12.857, the fastest time of the trials, and earned a spot for Milan. He said the COVID setback in Beijing had left him “screwed over” and he is now focused on redemption.
Casey Dawson said:
> “I actually got COVID two or three weeks before going to the competition. Tested positive for 50 straight tests. Couldn’t go over to the Games. I missed the opening ceremonies. Missed the 5,000 meters. Showed up 12 hours before my 1,500 meters. So I kind of 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.”
Casey Dawson added:
> “It’s kind of fun to have, like, my villain arc, I would call it. Just coming back and having some fun.”
| Athlete | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Casey Dawson | 6:12.857 | Wins, secures Milan spot |
| Ethan Cepuran | 6:19.335 | 2nd place |
| Chad Hedrick | 2006 Turin | Last American medalist in 5,000 |
Team Composition and Other Events
The U.S. Olympic roster for long track won’t be finalized until the trials finish on Monday, and the team is limited to eight men and six women. The women’s 3,000-meter race was won by Greta Myers in 4:06.799, but the U.S. has no current berth for that distance in Milan. Myers said she is hopeful a spot could open up.
Greta Myers said:
> “It’s hard to wait… I think it’s at least a 50-50 chance that it’ll happen.”
Stolz’s Upcoming Debut
Jordan Stolz, 21, will make his trials debut in the 1,000-meter race Saturday. He first competed in Beijing at 17 and has won world titles in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters in 2023 and 2024. He is already pre-qualified for the Olympics and only needs to compete to lock in his spot for Milan.
Key Takeaways
- Casey Dawson secures a Milan berth with a 6:12.857 win after a COVID-related setback in Beijing.
- Jordan Stolz is set to compete in the 1,000-meter trials and is pre-qualified for the Games.
- The U.S. long-track roster is capped at eight men and six women, with the women’s 3,000-meter spot still uncertain.
The U.S. long-track team is on track to send a strong squad to the Milan Cortina Games, thanks to Dawson’s redemption and Stolz’s upcoming performance.
