Bergsma, Mantia Win 1000m On Second Day Of U.S. Olympic Team Trials

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – The U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Long Track continued today in front of a second consecutive sellout crowd at the Pettit National Ice Center. Joey Mantia (Ocala, Fla.) and Heather Bergsma (High Point, N.C.) won their respective 1000m races and the top three men and top two women from each distance were named to the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team.

The top three men in the 1000m were separated by just 0.16 seconds with Mantia taking the top spot in 1:09.14.

“That was the tightest race for us for sure,” said Mantia. “The 1000m has legitimately six or seven guys that could actually get the spot. You can’t have a bad one.”

This will be Mantia’s second Olympic Games, as he qualified for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.

“This has been a big stresser. I feel like there is more pressure for Olympic Trials than there are for the Olympics, honestly. It was the same way last time. The first race going in is nerves at an all-time high,” said Mantia.

Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) punched his ticket to his fifth overall Olympic Games, his fourth in long track. The two-time Olympic Champion skated a 1:09.22 in the third to final pairing and had to wait to see if his time would stand.

“I went out there and fought like it was the last race of my career and I was able to get a spot on the team,” said Davis.

“I’m 35 years old. I’ve been making Olympic teams since I was 18, 19-years old, and I’ve had quite the career. I’m just honored to still be strong enough in this day and age. I’ve kept a solid head, stayed motivated and believed in myself. I’m really proud with myself that I was able to do it today.”

Wisconsin native Mitch Whitmore (Waukesha, Wisc.) turned in the fastest 600m split for the men in 25.00 seconds to finish in third with a time of 1:09.30. Whitmore qualified for his first 1000m at the Winter Olympics, having skated solely in the 500m during the 2010 and 2014 Games.

“It’s special to go to the Games in the 1000m,” said Whitmore. “I’ve always wanted to and I don’t want to be just a one-race skater.”

Bergsma ran away with the women’s 1000m in a time of 1:14.82. She was the only women to break the 1:15 mark.

“Now I can breathe a little bit more,” stated Bergsma. “I think I will now be able to have fun and relax this week.”

Bergsma has now made her third U.S. Olympic Team and will also look to qualify in the women’s 500m, 1500m and Mass Start events.

Brittany Bowe (Ocala, Fla.) will be skating in her second Olympic Games after a second-place finish in the women’s 1000m in 1:15.52.

“I’ve had a few really good weeks of training leading up to Trials and I’m happy to have a berth on the Olympic Team,” stated Bowe. “I have a few more races to go this week and then off to Korea.”

For results, post-race interviews and other media information, visit the US Speedskating Media Page.

The entire U.S. Olympic Long Track Speedskating Team will be formally named at the conclusion of the week’s races and will consist of a maximum of eight men and eight women skaters, subject to approval by the United States Olympic Committee.

Racing continues on Thursday, January 4 with the women’s 5000m and men’s 10000m. Live coverage of the races will be on NBCSN beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.