Christ, Hudey can pretty much pack their bags for the PyeongChang Games

Regina’s Kali Christ and White City’s Marsha Hudey are a rubberstamp away from securing trips to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Christ and Hudey clinched provisional spots on Canada’s Olympic speedskating team over the weekend at the national long-track team selections in Calgary.

Christ met the qualifying criteria in the women’s 1,500 metres on Saturday, one day after Hudey all but punched her second Olympic ticket in the 500 m.

The Canadian team, which can consist of up to 20 skaters (10 men, 10 women), is to be announced Wednesday.

“I’m in a qualifying spot and I have the time standard, so there shouldn’t be a problem, but I can’t say for sure until the full announcement comes out on the 10th,” Christ said Saturday after finishing second in the 1,500 m.

“As of right now, it’s looking pretty good and I’m pretty happy with that.”

That is especially true in light of the adversity Christ overcame in order to reach this point.

She missed most of the 2016-17 skating season while dealing with an injury to her left hip.

Even into the fall, she was still taking steps to stabilize the hip in the hope that she could regain the form that allowed her to compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

But after a series of strong performances, Christ was able to all but nail down a trip to PyeongChang, South Korea, for the 2018 Games.

“I didn’t have the kind of tearjerking moment that I did four years ago, but it’s definitely much different this time around,” Christ, 26, said of earning the provisional berth.

“I went into the Sochi trials kind of knowing that I was strong and that I was one of the top skaters. I was nervous — it was my first Olympic trials and everything — but it wasn’t anything kind of ridiculous.

“I didn’t really race at all last year due to being out with an injury and I didn’t really get that completely sorted out until this fall, so I feel like I have more of an appreciation of where I am.

“I know that I did miss out on a lot of training, but I did what I could when I could and that kept me in the game. At this point, I think I’m just going to continue to get better.

“It’s a really good feeling knowing that I pulled out what I needed to do (Saturday) and, in the future, I know that there’s a lot more potential there.”

Hudey also savoured a feel-good moment after winning the 500 m.

“I think it’s going to be a totally different experience (in PyeongChang),” she said Friday in a Speed Skating Canada media release. “I’ve heard from so many veterans that every Olympics is a unique experience.

“I’m looking to just go and skate the best I can and, with the experience I’ve gained over the last four years on the World Cup circuit, I think it will feel a bit different going into my second Games.”

Hudey, 27, won the 500 m in 37.46 seconds, earning one of the quota spots that is allotted to Canada in that event.

“I was a bit nervous, but that’s always a good thing, I think,” Hudey said. “I didn’t have to necessarily worry about a time (having already met the time standard). I was just thinking about putting together a good race. It was just another awesome opportunity to skate, to do a 500 metres and to nail as many things as I could to get ready for the Olympics.”

Hudey and Christ are both products of the Regina Speed Skating Club.