MILWAUKEE, WI —The U.S. Speedskating team is complete.
Sarah Warren, who narrowly missed the Olympic team four years ago, secured her spot at the Milano Cortina Games by winning the 500-meter race on Monday night. She was one of four skaters added to the U.S. team in the final day of the Olympic trials.
Zach Stoppelmoor qualified in the 500 meters; Ethan Cepuran got a spot in the mass start; and Giorgia Birkdale was nominated as a team pursuit specialist. They join:
Jordan Stolz (500, 1,000, 1,500 meters and mass start)
Cooper McLeod (500 and 1,000 meters)
Casey Dawson (1,500, 5,000, 10,000 meters and team pursuit)
Emery Lehman (1,500 meters and team pursuit)
Conor McDermott-Mostowy (1,000 meters)
Erin Jackson (500 and 1,000 meters)
Brittany Bowe (1,000 and 1,500 meters)
Mia Manganello (mass start and team pursuit)
Greta Myers (1,500 meters and team pursuit)
Stolz will be a gold-medal favorite in all of his events, while the men’s team pursuit also will be favorites for gold. Jackson and Bowe will be contenders at both of their distances, while Mia Manganello has a chance to medal in the mass start. The women’s team pursuit also has medal potential.
‘I think it’s really good,’ Stolz said when asked to assess the team. ‘I think we have some good (medal) opportunities.’
Warren earning her spot was one of the more emotional moments of the night.
After playing soccer at the University of Illinois, Warren returned to speed skating in 2021. She nearly made the U.S. team for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, finishing fourth in the 500 meters and fifth in both the 1,000 and 1,500 meters.
She’s had nine knee surgeries over the course of her career, and another on her ankle.
Jackson, the reigning Olympic champion in the 500 meters, had pre-qualified her spot through her success in the World Cups this season. The person with the next-fastest time after a 500-meter race Sunday and another Monday would join her.
Warren was second to Jackson on Sunday. With Jackson not racing Monday, Warren posted the fastest time to clinch her Olympic spot. When she crossed the finish line, Warren screamed and began crying.
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