We’ve got some more updates for you all from the Salt Lake City events. Let’s start off with the updates on the team, itself. From US Speedskating (click on the “Current News” page):

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.

. . .

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.

Read the full article at US Speedskating

Congratulations, Heather and Brian!

Now, we know that Stephen had his own race to skate, too, and it sounds like the production team was working hard to keep spoilers under control. I think the following article and photo are okay even for people trying to avoid spoilers, but I’ll leave them behind the fold just to be on the safe side.

Here’s the little we’ve seen on that race with Shani:

Look for Speedskating Challenge on Colbert

Well, the big showdown race is in the books.

Who won?

We’ll have to wait to find out.

Speedskater Shani Davis finally faced off with comedian Stephen Colbert after races at the U.S. Championships concluded Sunday at the Utah Olympic Oval, spokeswoman Peri Kinder confirmed …

Read the full entry here

I’m really looking forward to seeing that segment! This whole Olympic saga has been a ball so far; I’m so glad Stephen got the Colbert Nation involved.

And, while we wait to see the next installment, here’s that other candid photo I mentioned, this one from erindipitie‘s Twitpics:

It makes me smile that she’s holding the Sports Illustrated with his photo on it and that he seems to be holding on to some Colbert Nation paraphernalia.

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