Three U.S. Sleds in Four-Man Bobsled Top Ten Results

Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager

(518) 523-1842, ext 106, abird@usbsf.com

For Immediate Release

November 14, 2009

 

Three U.S. Sleds in Four-Man Bobsled Top Ten Results 

PARK CITY, Utah- The four-man bobsled World Cup season kicked off at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah today, where all three U.S. sleds finished in the top ten standings.  The U.S was sitting in first, third and fifth after the first heat, but after encountering obstacles in the second run finished in sixth, seventh and eighth.

Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) led the field of 26 sleds from start to finish after sliding a first run time of 48.22 seconds.  His push crew of Steve Langton (Melrose, Mass.), Chris Fogt (Alpine, Utah) and Chuck Berkeley (Clayton, Calif.) helped team USA II claim the fastest start time of the competition after bursting off the blocks for an impressive push time of 4.81 seconds. 

The team was favored to win gold, but Hays injured his left hamstring while loading into the sled in the second heat.  Pushing a start time of 4.88, the team slid across the finish line in 48.36 seconds for a combined time of 1:36.58, moving team Hays into sixth position. 

The Night Train crew driven by Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) and propelled by Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.), Justin Olsen (San Antonio, Texas) and Steve Mesler (Buffalo, N.Y.) pushed a start of 4.90 for a first run of 48.29 seconds, placing the team in third going into the final heat.  Team Holcomb had similar misfortune off the blocks in the second run.

“We were hoping to come back and move up in the second run,” said Holcomb.  “But I made a mistake by slipping getting into the sled.  It was my fault and a stupid mistake.  It’s an unfortunate day on a home track, but we’ll see what we can do next week.”

The Night Train crew pushed a time of 4.87 seconds, but the sled bumped the right wall before entering the first corner after Holcomb slipped loading into the sled, losing momentum down the course.  Holcomb’s sled crossed the finish line in 48.33 seconds for a total time of 1:36.62 for seventh place. 

“The guys are still fast, the sled is fast, it was just up to me getting into the sled today,” said Holcomb.  “I’d rather make these mistakes now and get them out of the way.”

Lyndon Rush piloted the Canadians to gold with a combined time of 1:36.43.  Teamed with Chris LeBihan, Dan Humphries and Lascelles Brown, the Canadians slid runs of 48.35 and 48.08 for the victory.

Janis Minins teamed with Daumants Dreiskens, Oskars Melbardis and Intars Dambis to win silver for Latvia.  The team slid a two-run total of 1:36.45 (48.30, 48.15). 

In third was the Russian team led by Dmitry Abramovitch and pushed by Philipp Egorov, Dmitry Stepushkin and Sergey Prudnikov with a total time of 1:36.45.  Abramovitch moved up to the medals from seventh position after sliding the fastest run of the second heat, 48.05 seconds. 

John Napier (Lake Placid, N.Y.) finished just 0.12 seconds from team Holcomb in eighth place with a combined time of 1:36.74. 

“I’m really happy,” said Napier.  “I had a few mistakes up top, but the guys did a great job.  It’s only our third push together as a team, so we pulled together really well today.”

Napier teamed with Jamie Moriarty (Winnetka, Ill.), T.J. Burns (Blue Bell, Pa.) and Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, Ohio) for push times of 4.91 and 4.96 before sliding to the finish in 48.34 and 48.40 seconds, respectively. 

Kreitzburg underwent major reconstructive surgery on his left hip in November 2008, which required the surgeon to break his pelvis in five places before rotating and securing everything together to correct the chronic injury.  Kreitzburg returned to the sport this fall and was named to the World Cup team, but still has several steps to take before making the Olympic team. 

“It’s a miracle and a blessing to have Brock back,” said Napier.  “It’s always good to see someone come back from such a devastating surgery.”

The teams will be en route to Lake Placid, N.Y. tomorrow for the second World Cup event of the 2009-2010 season. 

Please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager, at (518) 523-1842, ext. 106, or at abird@usbsf.com for any questions regarding the U.S. team. 

Results:

1. Rush, Le Bihan, Humphries and Brown (CAN) 1:36.43 (48.35, 48.08); 2. Minins, Dreiskens, Melbardis and Dambis (LAT) 1:36.45 (48.30, 48.15); 3. Abramovitch, Egorov, Stepushkin and Prudnikov (RUS) 1:36.45 (48.40, 48.05);...6. Hays, Berkeley, Langton and Fogt (USA) 1:36.58 (48.22, 48.36); 7. Holcomb, Olsen, Mesler and Tomasevicz (USA) 1:36.62 (48.29, 48.33); 8. Napier, Moriarty, Burns and Kreitzburg (USA) 1:36.74;

About the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation

The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. The USBSF would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support: Allianz Life, Under Armour, Vilter Manufacturing, 776 Original Marketing, KBC Helmets, Luminox Watch Company, EDAS/Ripxx and Ferris Mfg. Corp. The USBSF would also like to thank the following sponsors and suppliers for their partner, the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project:  Whelen Engineering, PPG, Columbia Sportswear, JEGS Automotive, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools, EXA, Lumber Liquidators, Lincoln Electronics and Racing Electronics.  For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org.

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