Cheek Figures to Be in Mix

Casey FitzRandolph will defend the gold medal he won at Salt Lake City, but Joey Cheek has had a better winter season and ranks as the top U.S. contender at 500 meters. Joji Kato of Japan and Dmitry Dorofeyev of Russia should battle Cheek for the gold.

Chad Hedrick, trying to match Eric Heiden’s record of five speedskating gold medals, is not entered in today’s event.

-- Bill Shaikin