Olympic long-track trials at Pettit in 2018.

Pettit Center to host big event

Though it’s unlikely anyone will ever know precisely why the U.S. long-track speedskating team performed poorly at the 2014 Winter Olympics, failing to win a single medal, one factor may have been the location of the Olympic team trials.

The trials were held at altitude at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah, weeks before the Games were held at sea level in Sochi, Russia.

Many in the sport believe that was a mistake and, if so, U.S. Speedskating doesn’t want to make it again going into the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The federation has announced that it will hold the 2018 U.S. Olympic long-track team trials at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee on Jan. 2-7.

The Pettit Center ice conditions will more closely resemble those at the Gangneung Oval, site of the long-track competition during the Pyeongchang Games, Feb. 9-25. The Gangneung Oval is located in a coastal cluster of competition venues.

“We are thrilled to have the City of Milwaukee and the Pettit National Ice Center host the 2018 U.S. Olympic trials (for) longtrack speedskating,” U.S. Speedskating executive director Ted Morris said in a statement. “The state of Wisconsin has a rich history in speedskating and we’re excited about adding to that legacy.”

The trials will be used to determine members of the U.S. long-track team. Up to 20 athletes — 10 men and 10 women — may be named to the team across 12 individual distances and two team events.