Four years ago, a stumble at the Pettit National Ice Center nearly cost Erin Jackson the opportunity to go to the Beijing Olympics and ultimately a speed skating gold medal.
This time, even at less than her best, Jackson put a stamp on her 2026 Olympic trip her first time on the ice.
Jackson, who has eased her way back since suffering a hamstring injury in early December, won the 1,000 meters Jan. 3 on the second of four days of competition at the Pettit Center ahead of the Milan Cortina Games in February.
“It’s a super big relief,” Jackson said. “Yeah, I’m pre-qualified in the 500, but I really wanted to race in the 1,000 so I knew I had to come here and come out strong to defend my position.
“I was not very happy with my injury, because that could cause me to not be able to race for this spot, but I’m really grateful everything worked out and I was able to come out strong.”
Jackson, 33, skating in the final pair, completed her 2 ½ laps in 1 minute 14.625 seconds to edge Brittany Bowe, the longtime friend from their in-line skating days in Ocala, Florida, who opened the door for Jackson in 2022.
Jackson came into this competition with more hopes than expectations. In addition to the hamstring injury she frequently deals with a balky back.
“It was just going to be a surprise how today was going to go because I haven’t really tested myself in about a month … so it ended up going really nicely,” said Jackson, who had aimed for a time in the 1:15 range.
“I didn’t feel any pain in my hamstring today. Hopefully, I continue to not feel it tomorrow when I wake up. I think it’s looking good. My back is same old. I’ve kind of learned to deal with the ups and downs of my back injury. That’s one that I don’t know if it’ll ever go away. I just get better at dealing with.”
Four years ago, Bowe won the 500 as Jackson stumbled in her race and dropped to third place. Those trials already were weird in that the Pettit was closed to fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then Jackson nearly missed her Olympic opportunity in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime season.
But Bowe handed Jackson her spot, and by winning the 500, Jackson became the first Black woman to take Winter Olympic gold in an individual sport.
Bowe, who already had qualified for Beijing by winning the 1,000 at the Pettit in record time, went on to win the bronze medal at that distance in Beijing.
Two women’s 1,000 qualifying spots were up for grabs this time, so Bowe punched her ticket for her return trip with silver at the Pettit. A three-time world champion and the world record holder in the 1,000, Bowe finished in 1:15.016 seconds. Mia Mangaello placed third.
Despite her experience, Bowe conceded she felt nerves leading up to her first race. She will compete again Jan. 5 in the 1,500 after Jackson skates in the 500 earlier in the day.
“No matter where you are on the World Cup circuit, the Olympic trials is a different animal,” Bowe said. “You’ve got to earn your way to the Olympics. But it feels good out there.”
The Saturday action included plenty of Wisconsin competitors skating in front of friends and family, but Bowe had a raucous cheering section led by her mother, Deborah, and including two of her coaches from her Division I basketball days at Florida Atlantic. They were able to watch her for the first time in their retirement.
“Skating in front of a sold-out Pettit is one of if not the only place in the U.S. that has a rich history for speed skating,” Bowe said, “so being able to race in front of these people and fans is an honor every single time.”
The trials are not strictly a win-and-you’re-in proposition, as the United States has multiple quota spots in some events and none in others as well as a maximum of eight slots for men and six for women. Even those numbers aren’t hard and fast and an alternate – such as Greta Myers, who won the 3,000 on Dec. 2 – could compete if another country does not use all its slots.
How did Wisconsin skaters do in the 1,000 meters at the Olympic trials?
While attention on the men’s race was directed at Kewaskum native Jordan Stolz, he was far from the only skater with Wisconsin connections competing on the men’s side.
Stolz finished third – behind Conor McDermott-Mostowy and Cooper McLeod – after a fall but already had qualified in the event as the leader on the World Cup circuit. All Stolz needed to do was start the race.
Among many other state natives and transplants competing:
Coming Jan. 4 at the Pettit Center
The U.S. Olympic team trials for long track speed skating continue at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, with the first of two 500 meters and then the 1,500 on the third day of the four-day event. Tickets for the session are sold out and few remain for the final day Jan. 5, a Pettit Center representative said the evening of Jan. 3.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Erin Jackson finds Pettit Center redemption winning 1,000 at Olympic trials
Reporting by Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
