U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Team Wins 12 Medals in Park City America’s Cup

Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager

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

For Immediate Release

December 5, 2009

U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Team Wins 12 Medals in Park City America’s Cup 

PARK CITY, Utah- The first bobsled and skeleton America’s Cup competition of the 2009-2010 season kicked off at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah from Dec. 1-5.  Each of the five disciplines competed in three competitions for 15 races on the 2002 Olympic track. 

The U.S. team collectively claimed 14 medals and 26 top six finishes. Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) contributed four gold and one silver medal to the count, and Mike Kohn (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) collected a silver and two bronze medals for men’s bobsled. Kyle Tress (Ewing, N.J.) swept the men’s skeleton competitions, adding three gold medals to the overall count, and Chris Burgess (Glen Gardner, N.J.) took away two silvers and a bronze medal from the Park City event. 

 

Men’s Two-man Bobsled

Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) suffered a hamstring injury while loading the sled at the Park City World Cup event and skipped the Lake Placid, N.Y. and Cesana, Italy races for a rehabilitation program in Texas.  Hays returned to the Park City course for the America’s Cup competitions in an effort to score valuable points on the world-ranking list before rejoining the World Cup team in Europe. 

Hays proved he was back in form after winning two out of three two-man competitions with push athlete Steve Langton (Melrose, Mass.).  In the first race on Tuesday, Dec. 1st, Hays and Langton pushed start times of 5.02 and 5.01 seconds for runs of 49.41 and 50.05 seconds, respectively.  The duo claimed the first America’s Cup bobsled gold medal of the season with a combined time of 1:39.46. 

Canadians Serge Despres and Cody Sorensen finished second with a total time of 1:39.80 after pushing the fastest start times of the competition, 4.89 and 4.88, for identical finish times of 49.90 seconds. 

Mike Kohn (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) teamed with Jesse Beckom (Chicago, Ill.) to add bronze to the U.S. medal count with a total time of 1:40.03.  Kohn and Beckom crossed the finish line in 49.83 and 50.20 seconds for a podium position.

Hays continued to rack up points on the world-ranking list with a second victory on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd.  Hays again teamed with Langton to dominate the competition with runs of 49.88 and 49.97 seconds for a total time of 1:39.85.  The duo had competitive start times of 5.02 and 4.95 seconds.

Despres teamed with Robert Sean Thomas Gray for the silver medal after sliding a combined time of 1:40.10 (50.00, 50.10), and Nicolae Istrate and Florin Cezar Craciun from Romania claimed bronze with a two-run total of 1:40.58 (50.28, 50.30).

Kohn teamed with Randy Jones (Mableton, Ga.) to finish fifth on Wednesday with a combined time of 1:40.72 (50.24, 50.48). 

Hays teamed with Cory Butner (Yucaipa, Calif.) on Thursday, Dec. 3rd for the final two-man bobsled competition in the Park City America’s Cup series.  Hays and Butner had the fastest run of the first heat, 49.27 seconds, but fell back into second place with a second run time of 49.71 seconds.  Hays claimed the silver medal with a two-run total of 1:38.98. 

Despres and Steeve Claveau nabbed the gold medal with a total time of 1:38.85 after sliding to the finish in 49.35 and 49.50 seconds.  Istrate and Craciun claimed bronze in 1:39.54.

Kohn and Hoy Thurman (Warner Robins, Ga.) combined forces for a fourth place result, finishing just two-hundredth of a seconds from the medals.  The U.S. team navigated the 2002 Olympic course in 49.52 and 50.04 seconds for a combined time of 1:39.56. 

 

Men’s Four-man Bobsled

Kohn continued collecting medals, claiming silver in the first four-man bobsled competition of the America’s Cup tour on Friday, Dec. 4th.  Teamed with Justin Orr (San Diego, Calif.), Garrett Hines (Smyrna, Ga.) and Jones, Kohn finished with a total time of 1:37.08 after sliding runs of 48.37 and 48.71 seconds. 

Istrate teamed with Craciun, Ionut Andrei and Ion Danut Dovalciuc for the four-man victory with a combined time of 1:36.66 (48.19, 48.47).  Despres, Gray, Sorensen and Justin Wilkinson for the bronze with a two-run total of 1:37.33 (48.41, 48.92).

Hays took Friday off but returned to competition on Saturday, Dec. 5th for two consecutive four-man races.   Hays’s push crew of Langton, Chris Fogt (Alpine, Utah) and Chuck Berkeley (Clayton, Calif.) gave the sled momentum at the start with push times of 5.03 and 4.97 seconds for runs of 48.64 and 48.86 seconds, respectively.  Hays added another gold medal to his resume by dominating the competition with a total time of 1:37.50.

The Romanian team driven by Istrate finished second with a combined time of 1:37.82 (48.64, 49.18).  Kohn swapped his team for Beckom, Thurman and Orr and nabbed bronze after crossing the finish line in 48.91 and 49.15 seconds for a two-run total of 1:38.06. 

In the final four-man competition, also held on Saturday, Hays claimed his final gold medal with Berekely, Langton and Fogt before reuniting with the World Cup team in Europe next week.  Team Hays slid runs of 49.17 and 49.19 seconds for a total time of 1:38.36 to once again dominate the competition.

Istrate won silver with a two-run total of 1:38.90 (49.52, 49.38).  Milan Jagnesak, David Rolet, Petr Narovec and Robert Krestanko from Slovakia finished third with a combined time of 1:38.95 (49.41, 49.54).

 

Women’s Bobsled

Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne, N.J.) began the sport of bobsled as a push athlete in 2007, and recently moved into the driver’s seat in the spring of 2009.   With only a few weeks of driving experience, Fenlator is already competing in her first international competition at the America’s Cup in Park City. 

“Competing as a driver is very different than when I was a brakeman,” said Fenlator.  “It is a lot more mentally taxing, but the joy and energy of the sport remains the same.”

Fenlator recruited friend Leisl Soergel (Evans City, Pa.) as her push athlete this week.   In the first of three competitions held on Tuesday, Dec. 1st, Fenlator and Soergel pushed nearly identical times of 5.79 and 5.78 for finish times of 52.92 and 52.68 seconds.  The pair was the only U.S. sled entered into the competition, and finished in fifth place with a combined time of 1:45.60.

“My brakeman Leisl Soergel is in her second week ever participating in the bobsled and is not only embracing the sport with great enthusiasm but encouraging and helping me out along my journey as a newer pilot,” said Fenlator.

Brazilian Fabiana Santos, who has been competing for seven years, teamed with Daniela Ribeiro Santos for the gold with a two-run total of 1:43.30 (51.71, 51.59).  Australians Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh claimed silver with a total time of 1:43.57 (51.81, 51.76), while Canadians Mellissa These and Tamara Dixon finished third for the bronze with a combined time of 1:43.77 (51.96, 51.81).

In the second competition held on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd, Fenlator and Soergel improved their start times, but Fenlator made some novice driver errors on the course to finish sixth with a combined time of 1:46.29.

“Beginning this week my goals were to just put the knowledge I have gained in training together and have some good runs during the race working on consistency,” said Fenlator.  “My start times are getting faster everyday as well as my comfort level now in the driver's seat." 

The U.S. duo pushed 5.74 and 5.71 on their way to finish times of 52.97 and 53.32 seconds. 

Canadian Lisa Szabon teamed with Cindy Marshall to claim Wednesday’s top prize with a total time of 1:43.00 after sliding the fastest runs of the competition, 51.42 and 51.58 seconds. 

These and Dixon again medaled, but this time the Canadian pair walked away with the silver medal with a combined time of 1:44.60 (52.26, 52.34).  Loch-Wilkinson and McIntosh climbed the podium again for the bronze medal with a two-run total of 1:44.92 (52.27, 52.65). 

Fenlator and Soergel finished seventh on Thursday, Dec. 2nd with a total time of 1:45.49.  The duo pushed start times of 5.81 and 5.86 for consistent runs of 52.74 and 52.75 seconds, respectively.

“I am very appreciative for the opportunity to compete this year in some of the America's Cup races as a beginner driver,” said Fenlator. “The support from the U.S. athletes as well as the international teams here is awesome.  There is great sportsmanship and camaraderie during this week's competition.”

Szabon and Marshall claimed their second gold medal of the week with a total time of 1:42.45, blasting the field away by 1.33 seconds ahead.  Loch-Wilkinson and McIntosh won their third medal on Thursday, a silver, with a combined time of 1:43.78 (51.80, 51.98).  In third was the Canadian team of These and Scott with a two-run total of 1:44.06 (51.99, 52.07).

 

Men’s Skeleton

Kyle Tress (Ewing, N.J.) earned his first career gold medal in the men’s skeleton competition held on Tuesday, Dec. 1st and continued his winning streak to sweep all three competitions.

"This is the first skeleton race I've ever won, and it's a great way to start the season,” said Tress.  “I've always felt that the individual pieces have been there, and now it's finally coming together.”

Tress became interested in the sport of skeleton after watching the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, which took place on the same track he claimed his first victory.  Tress dominated the competition on Tuesday evening with the fastest runs, 50.87 and 51.15 seconds, for a combined time of 1:42.02 to lead a field of 18 athletes. 

“The competition on America's Cup is strong this season, so I can't let myself lose focus,” said Tress. 

U.S. teammate Chris Burgess (Glen Gardner, N.J.) finished 0.82 seconds from Tress to claim the silver medal with a total time of 1:42.84.

“I’m obviously happy with the result,” said Burgess.  “It’s nice to have a good race after a less than stellar team trials series, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the circuit.  I’m also really happy Kyle finally got his first win.” 

Burgess pushed start times of 4.82 and 4.81 for runs of 51.32 and 51.52 seconds, respectively.  In third was Joe Cecchini from Canada with a total time of 1:42.97 (51.21, 51.76). 

Brad Steward (Park City, Utah) competed in just his seventh international competition on Tuesday and finished sixth with a combined time of 1:43.44 after sliding to the finish in 51.30 and 52.14 seconds. 

Luke Schulz (Davenport, N.D.), one of the fastest push athletes on the circuit and a favorite to medal, sprained his ankle the evening prior to the first race.  Schulz entered the race but was unable to push, and will be returning to Lake Placid, N.Y. for a rehabilitation program before returning to competition. 

Tress proved his win wasn’t a fluke after winning his second-consecutive gold medal on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd.  Tress once again dominated the competition with the two fastest runs of the day, 50.73 and 51.12 seconds, for a combined time of 1:41.85.  

“What a way to start America’s Cup,” said Tress.  “My focus this year has been on having consistent runs.  That has really helped me keep my race nerves in check.”

Cecchini moved up from his result on Tuesday to claim the silver medal with a total time of 1:42.32.  Burgess slid a bronze medal performance with a total two-run total of 1:42.63 after crossing the finish line in 51.04 and 51.59 seconds. 

Stewart moved into fifth place in the second competition with a combined time of 1:42.76 (51.07, 51.69). 

Tress proved he wasn’t a fluke on Wednesday and confirmed he’ll be a threat for the podium throughout the tour when he won his third-consecutive gold medal on Thursday, Dec. 3rd.  The America’s Cup leader slid nearly identical runs of 50.74 and 50.72 seconds for a combined time of 1:41.46 to complete his three-race sweep. 

“I’m so proud of this team and what we’ve accomplished this week,” said Tress.  “We’ve made huge strides towards capturing the America’s Cup title, but we know there is still work to do.  I struggled at the start of the season, and now I have the opportunity to prove that I’m capable of winning races.”

Burgess finished 0.18 seconds behind Tress for his third medal in as many races.  Burgess, who began sliding four years ago, claimed the silver medal with a total time of 1:41.64 after sliding to the finish in 50.92 and 50.72 seconds. 

Ian Roberts from New Zealand finished third with a combined time of 1:41.80.  Stewart continued to improve his results, finishing just outside of the medals in fourth on Thursday with a two-run total of 1:42.02 (51.05, 50.97).  

 

Women’s Skeleton

The Canadians showed the depth of their program after sweeping the podium in all three women’s skeleton competitions.  Tracey Anderson (Salt Lake City, Utah) led the U.S. women, finishing fifth in each of the three races. 

“It is a learning experience, and since this is my first year racing I should learn a lot,” said Anderson.  “I felt good with my runs, but they still did not reflect how my practice runs have been.  I was really proud of both our teams.”

In the first competition on Tuesday, Dec. 1st, Anderson finished with a two-run total of 1:46.02 after crossing the finish line in 53.09 and 52.93 seconds. 

The Canadian women swept the podium, with Diana Gruber in first with a total time of 1:44.93 (52.42, 52.51).  Robynne Thompson was in third after the first run but moved up for the silver medal after sliding the fastest second run of the field, 52.40 seconds.  Thompson finished with a combined time of 1:44.99, and teammate Jaclyn Laberge was third with a two-run total of 1:45.10 (52.30, 52.40). 

Anderson repeated her fifth place performance on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd with a combined time of 1:45.67 after sliding runs of 52.66 and 53.01 seconds. 

U.S. athlete Rachelle Rasmussen (Belmont, Calif.) cracked into the top six results, finishing just behind Anderson with a two-run total of 1:45.91 after stopping the clock in 52.76 and 53.15 seconds. 

Laberge improved to claim gold on Wednesday with a total time of 1:44.22 (51.79, 52.43).  Teammates Gruber and Thompson finished with the silver and bronze medals with combined times of 1:44.50 and 1:44.59, respectively. 

Laberge won her second-consecutive gold medal on Thursday, Dec. 3rd with a two-run total of 1:44.19 after sliding runs of 52.00 and 52.19 seconds.  Another Canadian, Lanette Prediger, pushed her way onto the medal stand with a combined time of 1:44.22 for the silver medal.  Gruber claimed her third medal of the week, bronze, with a total time of 1:44.42. 

Anderson finished fifth again after sliding to the finish in 52.67 and 52.87 seconds for a combined time of 1:45.54.  

The America’s Cup tour now moves to Calgary, Canada next week before finishing in Lake Placid, N.Y. 

“Racing the Canadians on their home track will be challenging,” said Tress, who swept the Park City races.  “If I can stay focused on the process of having two smooth and consistent runs, I can win.”

Results for the series of Calgary races will be posted following the final competition. Complete results can be found by visiting the web site for the Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing at www.fibt.com.  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:

Two-man Bobsled #1

1. Todd Hays and Steve Langton (USA) 1L39.46 (49.41, 50.05); 2. Serge Despres and Cody Sorensen (CAN) 1:39.80 (49.90, 49.90); 3. Mike Kohn and Jesse Beckom (USA) 1:40.03 (49.83, 50.20);...8. Jay Noller and Casey Strickland (USA) 1:40.92 (50.37, 50.55);...14. Mike Bradley and Hoy Thurman (USA) 1:41.68 (50.86, 50.82);

Two-man Bobsled #2

1. Todd Hays and Steven Langton (USA) 1:39.85 (49.88, 49.97); 2. Serge Despres and Robert Sean Thomas Gray (CAN) 1:40.10 (50.00, 50.10); 3. Nicolae Istrate and Florin Cezar Craciun (ROU) 1:40.58 (50.28, 50.30);...5. Mike Kohn and Randy Jones (USA) 1:40.72 (50.24, 50.48);...14. Mike Bradley and Hoy Thurman (USA) 1:41.94 (50.88, 51.06);...21. Chase DeHan and Jim Carriel (USA) (51.27, DNS);

Two-man Bobsled #3

1. Serge Despres and Steeve Claveau (CAN) 1:38.85 (49.35, 49.50); 2. Todd Hays and Cory Butner (USA) 1:38.98 (49.27, 49.71); 3. Nicolae Istrate and Florin Cezar Craciun (ROU) 1:39.54 (49.69, 49.85); 4. Mike Kohn and Hoy Thurman (USA) 1:39.56 (49.52, 50.04);...18. Mike Bradley and Jeremy White (USA) 1:41.40 (50.54, 50.86);...23. Jay Noller and Casey Stricklan (USA) (51.31, DNS);

Four-man Bobsled #1

1. Istrate, Andrei, Dovalciuc and Craciun (ROU) 1:36.66 (48.19, 48.47); 2. Kohn, Orr, Jones and Hines (USA) 1:37.08 (48.37, 48.71); 3. Despres, Gray, Wilkinson and Sorensen (CAN) 1:37.33 (48.41, 48.92);...15. Bradley, Beckom, Butner and White (USA) 1:41.43 (50.36, 51.07);

Four-man Bobsled #2        

1. Hays, Berkeley, Langton and Fogt (USA) 1:37.50 (48.64, 48.86); 2. Istrate, Andrei, Dovalciuc and Craciun (ROU) 1:37.82 (48.64, 49.18); 3. Kohn, Beckom, Thurman and Orr (USA) 1:38.06 (48.91, 49.15);...Bradley, Radcliff, Fogel and White (USA) DSQ;

Four-man Bobsled #3

1. Hays, Berkeley, Langton and Fogt (USA) 1:38.36 (49.17, 49.19); 2. Istrate, Andrei, Dovalciuc and Craciun (ROU) 1:38.90 (49.52, 49.38); 3. Jagnesak, Rolet, Narovec and Krestanko (SVK) 1:38.95 (49.41, 49.54);...5. Kohn, Jones, Orr and Hines (USA) 1:39.02 (49.59, 49.43);

Women’s Bobsled #1

1. Fabiana Santos and Daniela Santos (BRA) 1:43.30 (51.71, 51.59); 2. Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh (AUS) 1:43.57 (51.81, 51.76); 3. Mellissa These and Tamara Dixon (CAN) 1:43.77 (51.96, 51.81);...5. Jazmine Fenlator and Leisl Soergel (USA) 1:45.60 (52.92, 52.68);

Women’s Bobsled #2

1. Lisa Szabon and Cindy Marshall (CAN) 1:43.00 (51.42, 51.58); 2. Mellissa These and Tamara Dixon (CAN) 1:44.60 (52.26, 52.34); 3. Asrtid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh (AUS) 1:44.92 (52.27, 52.65);...6. Jazmine Fenlator and Leisl Soergel (USA) 1:46.29 (52.97, 53.32);

Women’s Bobsled #3

1. Lisa Szabon and Cindy Marshall (CAN) 1:42.45 (51.06, 51.39); 2. Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh (AUS) 1:43.78 (51.80, 51.98); 3. Mellissa These and Stacey Scott (CAN) 1:44.06 (51.99, 52.07);...7. Jazmine Fenlator and Leisl Soergel (USA) 1:45.49 (52.74, 52.75); 

Men’s Skeleton #1

1. Kyle Tress (USA) 1:42.02 (50.87, 51.15); 2. Chris Burgess (USA) 1:42.84 (51.32, 51.52); 3. Joe Cecchini (CAN) 1:42.97 (51.21, 51.76);...6. Brad Stewart (USA) 1:43.44 (51.30, 52.14);...Luke Schulz (52.56, DNS);

Men’s Skeleton #2

1. Kyle Tress (USA) 1:41.85 (50.73, 51.12); 2. Joe Cecchini (CAN) 1:42.32 (51.05, 51.27); 3. Chris Burgess (USA) 1:42.63 (51.04, 51.59); 3. John Farrow (AUS) 1:42.63 (51.11, 51.52); 5. Brad Steward (USA) 1:42.76 (51.07, 51.69); 

Men’s Skeleton #3

1. Kyle Tress (USA) 1:41.46 (50.74, 50.72); 2. Chris Burgess (USA) 1:41.64 (50.92, 50.72); 3. Ian Roberts (NZL) 1:41.80 (50.65, 51.15); 4. Brad Stewart (USA) 1:42.02 (51.05, 50.97);

Women’s Skeleton #1

1. Diana Gruber (CAN) 1:44.93 (52.42, 52.51); 2. Robynne Thompson (CAN) 1:44.99 (52.59, 52.40); 3. Jaclyn Laberge (CAN) 1:45.10 (52.30, 52.80);...5. Tracey Anderson (USA) 1:46.02 (53.09, 52.93);...7. Rachelle Rasmusen (USA) 1:46.58 (53.22, 53.36); 8. Joy Bryant (USA) 1:47.41 (53.77, 53.64);...11. Sabrina Hiteshew-Wilson (USA) 1:48.81 (54.70, 54.11);

Women’s Skeleton #2

1. Jaclyn Laberge (CAN) 1:44.22 (51.79, 52.43); 2. Diana Gruber (CAN) 1:44.50 (51.88, 52.62); 3. Robynne Thompson (CAN) 1:44.59 (52.16, 52.43);...5. Tracey Anderson (USA) 1:45.67 (52.66, 53.01); 6. Rachelle Rasmussen (USA) 1:45.91 (52.76, 53.15); 7. Joy Bryant (USA) 1:46.41 (53.11, 53.30);...9. Sabrina Hiteshew-Wilson (USA) 1:47.44 (53.65, 53.79);

Women’s Skeleton #3

1. Jaclyn Laberge (CAN) 1:44.19 (52.00, 52.19); 2. Lanette Prediger (CAN) 1:44.22 (52.07, 52.15); 3. Diana Gruber (CAN) 1:44.42 (51.82, 52.60);...5. Tracey Anderson (USA) 1:45.54 (52.67, 52.87);...7. Rachelle Rasmussen (USA) 1:46.07 (52.81, 53.26);...9. Joy Bryant (USA) 1:46.70 (53.50, 53.20); 10. Sabrina Hiteshew-Wilson (USA) 1:48.28 (54.50, 53.78);

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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