Two more Olympic spots filled at the Utah Olympic Oval

December 29, 2009—Salt Lake City, UT

Although she’s only been speedskating on ice since the fall of 2007, Heather Richardson (High Point, NC) has managed to earn starting positions in three Olympic distances. Richardson won the Ladies 1500m today at the 2010 U.S. Speedskating Championships at the Utah Olympic Oval, earning that Olympic spot along with the 500m and 1000m which she had previously won.

A former inline skater, Richardson’s main goal going into the Olympic qualifying process was to secure a berth in the 1000m but now she’ll be participating in three events in Vancouver.

“I was trying to concentrate and have fun,” she said about today’s race. “It’s definitely exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing what (the Olympics are) all about.”

Finishing in second place for the Ladies 1500m was Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. (Wheaton, IL) and in third was Anna Ringsred (Duluth, MN). Olympian Jen Rodriguez (Miami, FL) and Jilleanne Rookard (Woodhaven, MI) are the other two U.S. skaters competing in the Olympics in the 1500m.

In the Men’s 1500m, Olympian Chad Hedrick (Spring, TX) and Trevor Marsicano (Ballston Spa, NY) were paired in the final heat with Hedrick finishing in first with a time of 1:44. Marsicano finished in second place with 1:44.33, but it was Brian Hansen (Glenview, IL) earning the final 1500m Olympic spot, finishing in third place with a time of 1:44.83. Hedrick and Marsicano, along with Shani Davis (Chicago, IL) had already earned starting spots in the 1500m.

“Today was just a practice race for me on the road to victory,” Hedrick said. “Every day is a learning experience and it feels like my road to Vancouver is going well so far.”

Hansen, the current Junior American record holder in the 1500m, is coached by four-time Olympian Nancy Swider-Peltz and said he knew the competition would be tough for this Olympic spot.

“I knew that there was going to be a lot of people right behind me,” Hansen said. “So I’m really glad I made it.”

At the conclusion of today’s races, the following athletes have earned a place on the U.S. Olympic team:

Shani Davis                             500, 1000, 1500, 5000

Chad Hedrick                         1000, 1500, 5000, 10,000

Trevor Marsicano                    1000, 1500, 5000

Tucker Fredricks                     500

Nick Pearson                           500

Mitchell Whitmore                  500

Brian Hansen                          1500

Jen Rodriguez                         500, 1000, 1500

Heather Richardson                500, 1000, 1500

Jilleanne Rookard                   1500, 3000, 5000

Elli Ochowicz                         500, 1000

Catherine Raney Norman       3000

Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr.          3000

Lauren Cholewinski                500

Racing concludes tomorrow with the second Ladies’ and Men’s 1000m, the Ladies 5000m and the Men’s 10,000m. For complete results, visit www.usspeedskating.org and follow US Speedskating on Twitter and Facebook.