MILWAUKEE (AP) Four-time Olympian K.C. Bouttiete won the men's 5,000-meter race on the first day of the U.S. speedskating team's long track World Cup qualifier.
The 46-year-old Boutiette finished in 6 minutes, 43.37 seconds, edging 2014 Olympian Emery Lehman by 0.19 seconds.
Heather Bergsma was the fastest women's 500 (39.17 seconds). Mitch Whitmore led the men (35.27), followed by fellow Olympian Jonathan Garcia (35.92) and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shani Davis (36.25). The second round of 500s is Saturday.
Mia Manganello won the women's 3,000 (4:14.46).
Speedskaters are competing for spots this weekend in World Cup races beginning Nov. 11 in China. The U.S. has four quota spots for women and three for men in the international events, determined by the fastest 500 times from the two attempts at the race.
