Speedskating: Bowe, Richardson, Davis headline long track World Cup qualifiers

Eleven Olympians return to the ice at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns on Friday for the upcoming U.S. long track speedskating World Cup qualifiers.

Skaters will participate in the 500-, 1,000- ,1,500- and 5,000-meter events during the next three days to determine placement on the U.S. long track team for the upcoming 2015-16 ISU World Cup calendar, starting this fall.

Headliners include three-time World Champion Brittany Bowe, Heather Richardson and two-time gold medalist Shani Davis. Bowe is coming off a stellar season a year ago in which the Ocala, Fla., native won the gold medal at the World Sprint Speedskating Championships in Kazakhstan in March.

A month prior, Richardson and Bowe went 1-2 in the 500-meter event at the long track World Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. Bowe also won the 1,000-meter event.

At 33, Davis continues to lace up his skates. A gold medalist from both the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Davis had an impressive ending to his season a year ago. The Chicago native won his first major title in nearly four years in Heerenveen in the 1,000-meter men's event at the World Championships.

It was his fourth 1,000-meter title of his storied career.

"I needed something to show me I still have what it takes," Davis told the Associated Press. "I was crying, I was so happy."

Also set to compete this weekend are 2014 Olympians Sugar Todd and Kelly Gunther. Four-time Olympian KC Boutiette, at age 45, is pushing for a fifth appearance at an Olympiad as well. The Tacoma, Wash., native will be competing against athletes half his age for a spot on the U.S. long track squad.