Rohbock Leads U.S. Women in Lake Placid Bobsled Competition

Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager

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

For Immediate Release

November 21, 2009

Rohbock Leads U.S. Women in Lake Placid Bobsled Competition 

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.- Shauna Rohbock (Park City, Utah) finished just eight-hundredths of a second from the medals in today’s women’s bobsled competition at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, N.Y.  Rohbock teamed with World Championship silver medalist teammate Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Ga.) for fifth place in a tight competition against 22 sleds. 

“I think if I had a good chicane in the first run, I could have pulled it off,” said Rohbock about the section lower on the course.  “It was a close two runs, but I couldn’t put it together.”

Rohbock and Meyers slid to the finish with a combined time of 1:57.31 in a close competition.  The duo pushed times of 5.60 and 5.62 for runs of 58.85 and 58.46 seconds, respectively. 

“It was a disappointing day for me,” said Rohbock.  “I wanted to do better after such a disappointing race last weekend."

The Germans claimed the top two podium positions.  Cathleen Martini teamed with Romy Logsch for the gold with a total time of 1:56.15 (58.27, 57.88), while Sandra Kiriasis and Janine Tischer claimed silver with a combined time of 1:56.56 (58.28, 58.28).

“The Germans finished 1-2 today, but we’ll finish 1-2 at the end of the season,” said Rohbock with a laugh. 

In third was the team of Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse from Canada with a two-run total of 1:57.23 after sliding to the finish in 58.67 and 58.56 seconds. 

Erin Pac (Farmington, Conn.) and push athlete Michelle Rzepka (Novi, Mich.) continue to threaten the international field with their start times, pushing start times of 5.49 and 5.46 seconds in today’s competition.  Pac and Rzepka slid to the finish line in 58.85 and 58.63 seconds for a total time of 1:57.48. 

Pac was tied with Rohbock for fifth after the first heat, but Pac made a few mistakes on the 20-curve course and finished seventh.

“My first run was not what I expected,” said Pac.  “Hitting three times going into one isn’t what you want on a home track.  I thought I was going to do very well here, but I made some major mistakes in the second run as well and it cost me.”

Bree Schaaf (Bremerton, Wash.) teamed with Emily Azevedo (Chico, Calif.), her U.S. National Championship teammate, to finish ninth with a two-run total of 1:57.73. 

“I got off to a bad start,” said Schaaf, who was held at the starting line for twelve minutes after a forerunner crashed before the race.  “I usually like adversity, but this time I couldn’t get over it.” 

The U.S. team pushed start times of 5.68 and 5.65 for down times of 58.92 and 58.81 seconds. 

“Emily did a great job,” said Schaaf.  “I hit the push bar late and then didn’t have as clean a run as I had to.  But, we’re still all really excited about Napier’s win today, because good results are good for the entire team.”

John Napier (Lake Placid, N.Y.) had his first top ten result in two-man bobsled today, winning the gold medal against a tough field of athletes.  The men will compete in four-man competition tomorrow morning at 9 am EST. 

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. Cathleen Martini and Romy Logsch (GER) 1:56.15 (58.27, 57.88); 2. Sandra Kiriasis and Janine Tischer (GER) 1:56.56 (58.28, 58.28); 3. Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse (CAN) 1:57.23 (58.67, 58.56);...5. Shauna Rohbock and Elana Meyers (USA) 1:57.31 (58.85, 58.46);...7. Erin Pac and Michelle Rzepka (USA) 1:57.48 (58.85, 58.63);...9. Bree Schaaf and Emily Azevedo (USA) 1:57.73 (58.92, 58.81);

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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