Glenview's Hansen skates onto Olympic team

Glenview's Brian Hansen punched his ticket to the 2010 Winter Olympics with a third-place finish in the 1,500 meters Tuesday at the U.S. Speedskating Long Track Championships in Kearns, Utah.

Hansen, 19, is the youngest member of the Olympic long-track speedskating team.  He is coached by four-time Olympian Nancy Swider-Peltz., whose daughter, Nancy Jr., also made the 2010 team.

Hansen has set world junior (19 & Under) records for the 1,500 meters twice this season.

He joins a U.S. Olympic contingent in the 1,500 that includes reigning Olympic silver medalist and world record-holder Shani Davis; reigning Olympic bronze medalist Chad Hedrick; and reigning world single-distance silver medalist Trevor Marsicano.

Davis did not compete Tuesday.  Hedrick won, with Marsicano second.

Photo: Glenview's Brian Hansen with his bronze medal from the U.S. Championships. (Steve C. Wilson/AP)