2006 U.S. Long Track Olympic Team Nominated

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (January 1, 2006) - After an intensive week of new
World and American records, eight ladies and 10 men long track speedskaters
are one step closer to the 2006 Torino Winter Olympic Games in Italy in
February after finishing in top positions at the 2006 Long Track
Championships and the fall World Cups.

In the individual distances of 500, 1000 and 1500 meters, the U.S. was
eligible to enter up to four female and four male skaters to the roster in
each distance. For the ladies' 300 meters and men's 5000 meters, the U.S.
can send up to three each. The total roster could not exceed 10 skaters of
each women and men.

In the ladies' 500 meters, Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami, FL) was pre-qualified
to be nominated based on her World Cup performances. Elli Ochowicz (Palo
Alto, CA) won the 500 meters event at the 2006 U.S. Long Track Championships
to give her a berth on the nomination list for the distance. Amy Sannes (St.
Paul, MN) finished second at the Championships and Chris Witty's (West
Allis, WI) fourth place finish gave her the final spot. Rodriguez finished
third at the Championships.

Casey FitzRandolph (Verona, WI) and Joey Cheek (Greensboro, NC) were
pre-qualified for nomination for the 500 meters team based on their World
Cup performances. At the Championships, Tucker Fredricks's (Janesville, WI)
second place finish and Kip Carpenter's (Janesville, WI) third place finish
gave them the final two spots in the distance.

Rodriguez was the sole female skater pre-qualified for nomination in the
1000 meters. She also skated the distance the fastest at the Championships.
Therefore, the next fastest times in the 1000 meters, skated by Witty,
Sannes and Ochowicz, earned them the final three spots to be nominated in
the distance.

FitzRandolph, Cheek and 1000 meters World Record holder Shani Davis
(Chicago, IL) were pre-qualified to be nominated in the 1000 meters based on
their World Cup performances, leaving only one spot available. Chad Hedrick
(Spring, TX) grabbed that spot on Saturday at the Championships.

Once again based on her World Cup performances, Rodriguez was pre-qualified
to be nominated in the 1500 meters. Witty, Catherine Raney (Elm Grove, WI)
and Maria Lamb (River Falls, WI) secured the final three spots at the
Championships.

Davis and 1500 meters World Record holder Hedrick were pre-qualified to be
nominated in the distance based on World Cup performaces. Cheek and Derek
Parra (San Bernardino, CA) took the two available spots at the
Championships.

Raney and Margaret Crowley (Evanston, IL) qualified for the 3000 meters at
the World Cups this fall. Kristine Holzer (Boise, ID) also qualified based
on her World Cup standing.

Davis, Hedrick and KC Boutiette (Tacoma, WA) qualified for the 5000 meters
at the World Cups this fall.

Clay Mull (Gastonia, NC) and Charles Leveille (Atlanta, GA) were named to
the nominated team as members of the Team Pursuit.

All six long track medalists from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games will
be returning to the Olympic Games in efforts to double their medal count.
Those six are Carpenter (500m - bronze), Cheek (1000m -bronze), FitzRandolph
(500m- Gold), Parra (1500m- gold, 5000m -silver), Rodriguez (1000m-bronze,
1500m - bronze)and Witty (1000m - gold).

Torino will be Witty's fifth Olympic venture - four Winter Games and a
Summer Game. Boutiette will be making his fourth appearance. FitzRandolph,
Parra, Sannes, Rodriguez and Raney will be returning to the Olympic Games
for the third time. Cheek and Ochowicz will be competing in their second
Games. Davis will be competing in his second Games as well but his first as
a member of the long track team. In 2002, he was a member of the U.S. Short
Track Olympic Team.



Nominated 2006 U.S. Olympic Long Track Team:

Ladies:
Margaret Crowley, Kristine Holzer, Maria Lamb, Elli Ochowicz, Catherine
Raney, Jennifer Rodiguez, Amy Sannes, Chris Witty

Men:
KC Boutiette, Kip Carpenter, Joey Cheek, Shani Davis, Casey FitzRandolph,
Tucker Fredricks, Chad Hedrick, Charles Leveille, Clay Mull, Derek Parra

500m ladies: Rodriguez, Witty, Sannes, Ochowicz
500m men: FitzRandolph, Cheek, Fredricks, Carpenter
1000m ladies: Rodriguez, Witty, Sannes, Ochowicz
1000m men: FitzRandolph, Cheek, Davis, Hedrick
1500m ladies: Rodriguez, Raney, Lamb, Witty
1500m men: Hedrick, Davis, Parra, Cheek
3000m ladies: Raney, Crowley, Holzer
5000m men: Davis, Hedrick, Boutiette
Added for Team Pursuit: Mull, Leveille