Parkite speed skater Casey Dawson qualified for two more Olympic races at the U.S. Olympic Team Trails over the past few days at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Dawson won Friday’s 5000m race, securing the only men’s bid to the Milan Games in the event. He followed up Friday’s win with a second place finish in Sunday’s 1500m race, where the top three finishers are being sent to Milan. Dawson failed to win Monday’s mass start race, where only one man qualified for the Games.  Dawson’s priorities in Milwaukee were to qualify for the 5000m race, maybe qualify for the 1500m race and watch his team pursuit teammates qualify for the Games. In Olympic speed skating, each team pursuit skater has to also qualify for an individual event to race the team event.  The 25 year old entered trials already qualified for the 10000m and team pursuit races because of his strong early-season World Cup showings.  It was Dawson’s first time qualifying for Games races with fans in the stands at trials. He shared the joy after races with family, friends and his girlfriend, most of whom were donning shirts with his face on them.  “It means a lot,” Dawson said to NBC Sports about punching his 5000m and 1500m tickets. “Last Winter Olympics, Covid kind of took my opportunity to get a full 1500 and 5K in.” Dawson won bronze in his first Olympics in the team pursuit race. But, he finished 28th in the 1500m race and was a scratch in the 5000m race.  Dawson will enter Milan as the gold medal favorite in the team pursuit race, alongside teammates Ethan Cepuran and Emery Lehman. The pairing has won all three World Cup team pursuit races this season, including the Salt Lake City World Cup, where they broke their own world record. Dawson will also be a strong medal contender in the 5000m race, ranking fourth in the world in long distance skating (5000m and 10000m races). The Parkite is ranked 29th in the world in the 1500m race.  Dawson will have the full support of his family, friends and girlfriend again in Milan as he goes for further medals. “Looking forward to getting my first full touch of the Olympic experience,” he added.  The Parkite caught the eye of many over the past few days, donning his trademark pink backpack, a result of losing his fantasy football league last season, which Cepuran and Lehman are also part of. Dawson also has a plastic foot attached to his phone case as a result of the loss. It has a U.S.-themed sock on it.  “It’s going everywhere,” Dawson said about his backpack. “You’ll see it at the Games for sure.” All of the Olympic speed skating events will be held at Milan’s Milano Speed Skating Stadium. The Olympic 5000m final will be on Feb. 8, 10000m final Feb. 13, team pursuit final Feb. 17 and 1500m final Feb. 19. The post Casey Dawson qualifies for two more Olympic races at U.S. trials  appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less