Casey Dawson, paired with team pursuit teammate Ethan Cepuran, dominated the men's 5000m at the U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Trials, becoming the first American skater to officially qualify for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics at Trials. He raced each lap in 29 seconds or less, crossing the finish line 6.48 seconds ahead of second-place Cepuran.

Cepuran and Dawson also were paired together at the 2022 Olympic Trials. There, Cepuran came out on top, just 0.04 seconds ahead of his teammate for the spot in the Olympic men’s 5000m that year.

"I've just been training this whole season to nail down the lap times," Dawson told NBC Sports' Lewis Johnson after the race. Being one of the top skaters in the world — it's a dream of mine, and I'm just happy to be where I'm at."

Over the last year, Dawson has emerged as a fierce contender in his individual races. Since January 27, 2025, the 25-year-old has broken three national records in the 5000m, as well as one apiece in the 3000m and 10,000m. In the 10,000m, he shaved almost 10 seconds off the 20-year-old mark held by Chad Hedrick — the last U.S. man to earn an Olympic medal in the 5000m (gold) or the 10,000m (bronze). At the second World Cup this season, Dawson skated to his first individual World Cup podium finish, taking gold in the 5000m by just 0.02 seconds. His win marked the first time an American man had finished first in a World Cup 5000m race in 20 years.

Going into the weekend, Dawson already had qualified for the 2026 Games in the 10,000m. The U.S. was awarded one quota spot in the event in the first round of quota distribution, but as there is no 10,000m contested at Trials, Dawson was nominated to the spot automatically as the highest-ranked American on the World Cup level. 

"There's still a lot of pressure. In the 5000, anything could happen," Dawson said. "I just have to be confident with how I've skated this past season and just bring that into this race."  

Dawson and Cepuran, along with Emery Lehman, make up the world-record-holding U.S. men's team pursuit trio, which has earned the last five-straight overall World Cup titles. For the second-straight Olympics, they are the gold medal favorites in the event, but each skater must qualify in an individual event before they can be named to the team pursuit pool. All three will race in the 1500m at Trials Sunday, Jan. 4. Cepuran then will wrap up his weekend with the mass start Monday, Jan. 5.

Earlier in the evening, Greta Myers placed first in the weekend's opening event, the women's 3000m, with a final time of 4:06.799 minutes.

Myers finished 1.86 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Giorgia Birkeland. Piper Yde rounded out the podium, crossing the finish line in 4:27.652 minutes.

Myers, the reigning national champion in the event, set new national records at each of the first two 3000m races on the World Cup this season. At the second stop on the circuit, she shaved 1.66 seconds off the mark she posted at the season opener in Salt Lake City (4:01.66 minutes), crossing the finish line in 4:00.70. The 21-year-old also helped break the U.S. women's team pursuit record in Salt Lake City en route to a bronze medal and is ranked 6th overall in the women's mass start.

"I hurt a lot, but I felt pretty strong. It's nice to show the level that [I'm at] right now," Myers told Johnson after the race. "I'm looking forward to the Games and super excited to see what that will bring."

Based on results from the first four World Cups this season, the International Olympic Committee did not award any quota spots to the United States for the women's long distances. However, the United States owns the first reserve spot in the 3000m, meaning that if the IOC reallocates any quota spots in the distance, the United States will be the first country to receive one. The reallocation process will take place in late January after each country accepts or denies their designated quotas.

Should a reserve spot open up for the United States, Myers would take it and earn her first Olympic berth.

"It would be so incredibly special, honestly a dream come true," Myers said of the possibility of making her first Olympic team.

The women's 3000m also will open the speed skating competition at the Olympics, beginning Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. EST.

The 2026 U.S. Olympic Speed Skating Trials will continue Saturday, Jan. 3, with the men's and women's 1000m.