Hello Family and Friends!

Casey had a fabulous end to his season this past weekend in Seoul, Korea. He was skating in the World Single Distance Championships in the 500m races. He really appreciated everyone who sent faxes to him...each day I would talk with him, he would mention another 5 or 6 of you who had sent messages. Thank you! He was so thrilled to hear from so many different people! It definitely must have worked!

He competed Friday, racing both 500m races only 2 hours apart. Just as in the Olympics they combine the times to determine the overall winner after two races. His first race, he was paired with fellow American Kip Carpenter and roommate on the road! Pretty exciting stuff. Kip starts in the down start, which threw Casey off a bit in the second race of the Olympics ...so Casey was trying to ignore Kip and concentrate on the pulse of the gun! He timed the gun perfectly...his 100m split was a 9.76...coming around the last turn Casey and Kip were neck and neck...they cross the line...tied...with a time of 35.78....putting them in 5th place for the first race. Mike Ireland a training partner from Canada wins the race with a time of 35.40.

Down time now...time to assess what can be corrected and what needs to be done the exact same as the first race. Also time to sharpen the skates again! Casey learns that he is paired again with Kip, just opposite lanes this time. After a few floods of the ice, the ladies 1500m races, and waiting for the timing devices to be fixed after a skater kicked one...it was time to race. All Casey wanted to do was skate a solid race. After all, this is the last race of the season! He timed the start perfectly once again. (Something he had been working on in practices and warm up all week - he was very pleased with himself) He crosses the 100m point in a time of 9.70....faster than the first race...he has good one going he thinks to himself...he comes out of the last turn ahead of Kip this time...and crosses the finish line in 35.59. Yippee faster then the first race and good enough for 4th place in the second race -- .04seconds out of 3rd. Casey's training partner, Jeremy Wotherspoon from Canada finishes first with a time of 35.25.

Overall, Casey's times are good enough for 5th place overall! Casey was .17seconds from an overall medal in two races! Now you know why every second counts...even fractions of seconds!

OVERALL STANDINGS- 500m men’s

1, Jeremy Wotherspoon, Canada, 1 minute 10.79 seconds (35.54/35.25).

2, Dmitry Lobkov, Russia, 1:11.14 (35.68/35.46).

3, Mike Ireland, Canada, 1:11.20 (35.40/35.80).

Americans:

5, Casey FitzRandolph, Verona, Wis., 1:11.37 (35.78/35.59).

7, Kip Carpenter, Brookfield, Wis., 1:11.50 (35.78/35.72).

10, Joey Cheek, Greensboro, N.C., 1:11.84 (36.10/35.74).

"The men's 500 was once again a tight battle for the top spots but all three of our guys skated aggressively into the top 10," said U.S. Coach Ryan Shimabukuro. "It's frustrating when medals and higher placements are lost by mere hundredths of a second, but despite that I was pleased with their races. I'm really looking forward to the 1000 on Sunday."

Casey later wrote in an email to me...."skating went well....openers real good, laps ok. if a couple people didn't get away with jumps I might have been a hair higher, but I timed my starts just right so I guess I can't complain."

I am so incredibly proud of my husband! And we are so grateful for all your warm thoughts and words of encouragement...thanks again to those of you who faxed Casey and thank you, too, to those who email us! I've read all your emails to Casey over the phone! And now tomorrow, Monday, my hubby returns home after 6 weeks of travel! Kea and I are sooo excited to have him back! We will be traveling home to Wisconsin in two weeks and will be home until the middle of May. We hope to see most of you. We have exciting/yet sad news for everyone. And I will let Casey be then next to email you with all the upcoming adventures we are about to embark on!

Thanks for all you support!

Jenn Fitz