SOMERS - For the first time in 20 years, the Pettit National Ice Center in West Allis hosted the U.S. Olympic Long Track Speedskating Trials Jan. 2-7.
The trials are usually held in Utah, however, due to the similar elevation of West Allis and Pyeongchang, South Korea, where the Olympic Winter Games started Feb. 8, the trials returned to the Pettit Center.
With the trials back in Wisconsin, UW-Parkside student Jessica Crull, a former resident of Monroe, was one of the 16 volunteer undergraduate sports management students who participated serving in a variety of operational internships at the event.
Crull worked crowd control and security at the event. The trials provided valuable real-world experience for her and the experience increased her interest in the Olympics and these athletes in particular.
The change was sparked by the disappointing performances of U.S. skaters at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. The lack of success four years ago has been blamed in part on the trials and pre-Olympic training being held in places with different elevation than where the competition actually occurred.
The trials are usually held in Utah, however, due to the similar elevation of West Allis and Pyeongchang, South Korea, where the Olympic Winter Games started Feb. 8, the trials returned to the Pettit Center.
With the trials back in Wisconsin, UW-Parkside student Jessica Crull, a former resident of Monroe, was one of the 16 volunteer undergraduate sports management students who participated serving in a variety of operational internships at the event.
Crull worked crowd control and security at the event. The trials provided valuable real-world experience for her and the experience increased her interest in the Olympics and these athletes in particular.
The change was sparked by the disappointing performances of U.S. skaters at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. The lack of success four years ago has been blamed in part on the trials and pre-Olympic training being held in places with different elevation than where the competition actually occurred.
