Pettit National Ice Center Stages a Spectacular Masters Sprint Games

Just two weeks after hosting the World Cup, the Pettit National Ice Center set a new benchmark for Masters World Championships, welcoming 105 skaters from seven countries. Athletes from Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Norway, Mongolia, and the USA battled fiercely across five-year age categories, delivering breathtaking performances.

The competition proved to be one of the deepest in history, with even the Men’s 80+ category boasting five competitors. USA skaters dominated, earning ten Gold, seven Silver, and three Bronze medals. The ice was lightning-fast, leading to eight new Masters' World Records—an impressive feat considering the event's 49-year history.

Among the standout performances, Judith Smouter shattered the W75 500m, 1000m, and Sprint Samalog World Records, while Barb Johnson claimed the W70 1000m and Sprint Samalog records. Dutch legend Victor Van Den Hoff and Gerdien Verweiji also etched their names into the record books.

Five-time U.S. Olympian KC Boutiette, who took gold in the M55 category, praised the event’s organization. "I think the event was fantastic and really glad I went," he said. Preparing for the competition, he trained outdoors on a natural ice lake he maintained himself.

One of the most memorable races saw Smouter and Johnson paired together for the 1000m, both breaking records in their respective categories. "I was in awe of Barb’s accomplishments, so being paired with her was an honor," Smouter shared. "I saw her a few times during the race and knew we were close, so I gave it all I had."

The Masters' community expressed deep appreciation for Mark Nolan, Nathan Miller, Carolyn Spiewak, and the entire Pettit National Ice Center staff and volunteers, whose dedication made the event an unforgettable success.

Below is the full list of USA Masters top finishes:

Gold

Julie Gehring  W-30

Tori Carter W-35

Cherise Wilkins W-40

Nathalie Rodrigez-Hasselback. W-50 

Gretchen Hower W-65

Barb Johnson W-70

Judith Smouter W-75

Austin Carlson M-30

KC Boutiette M-55

Vince Morris M-75

Silver

Mary Murphy W-30

Leah Pickett-Doty W-35

Joanna Walters W-75

Andrew Love M-50

Dan Carney M-55

Brian Bullard M-30

Markevous Humphrey M-35

Bronze

Josh Krieter  M-35

Jeff Terwilliger M-60

Robert Dvorak M-70