U.S. Men’s Bobsled Team on Pace for Olympic Qualification

Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager

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

For Immediate Release

January 9, 2010 

U.S. Men’s Bobsled Team on Pace for Olympic Qualification 

KÖNIGSSEE, Germany- Twenty-eight sleds navigated the track in Königssee, Germany for today’s two-man bobsled World Cup competition. Teams raced to the finish for more than a chase of the medals, but for valuable points on the world-rank list. Only three nations will be granted three sleds at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and quotas will be announced following next week’s race in St. Moritz, Switzerland.  The U.S. is in a favorable position to qualify the maximum number of sleds. 

“This is the final push for nations to both qualify for the games and improve their ranking for a better start order in Whistler,” said Darrin Steele, U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation Chief Executive Officer.  “Today was a rough day for us, but it is not uncommon at this track.  We are still where we need to be and expect great results tomorrow and next week.  It is nice to win them all, but it is a long season and Vancouver is still the focus.”

World Championship medalists Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) and Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.) led the U.S. in ninth place today with a combined time of one minute, 38.90 seconds.  Holcomb and Tomasevicz were competitive from start to finish with push times of 4.98 and 4.93 seconds for runs of 49.65 and 49.25 seconds, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to grab a medal in a race that was won by mere hundredths of a second. 

German Thomas Florschuetz teamed with Richard Adjei for the gold with a total time of 1:38.17 after posting runs of 49.08 and 49.09 seconds.  Reigning Olympic champion Andre Lange teamed with Kevin Kuske to finish just five-hundredths of a second from their teammates in second with a combined time of 1:38.22 (49.22, 49.00).  Beat Hefti and Thomas Lamparter from Switzerland were one-hundredth of a second off Lange’s pace with a two-run total of 1:38.23 after clocking runs of 49.23 and 49.00 seconds. 

U.S. pilot John Napier (Lake Placid, N.Y.) and push athlete Chuck Berkeley (Clayton, Calif.) finished 11th with a combined time of 1:38.94.  Napier was in eighth position after a first heat time of 49.44 seconds, but dropped three spots after sliding a second run of 49.50 seconds.

“We had a respectable finish,” said Napier.  “I wasn’t really happy because I want to place higher, but we did our best.  I felt like I had two good trips, but sometimes you make mistakes you aren’t aware of.  I’ll go over video review with our great coaching staff tonight to prepare for tomorrow’s four-man race.  We’ll be ready to grab some medals tomorrow.”

Mike Kohn (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) competed in his second World Cup competition of the season with Steve Langton (Melrose, Mass.) to finish 18th.  The duo pushed start times of 5.04 and 4.99 for runs of 49.93 and 49.56 seconds, respectively. 

Kohn was given the opportunity to qualify as the third sled for the U.S. at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games when Todd Hays was forced into retirement after a career-ending head injury sustained during a training crash. After today’s competition, the U.S. is the third ranked nation to qualify a third sled behind Germany and Switzerland.  Kohn will need to lead the third ranked sled from Canada and Russia next week to earn his Olympic qualification. 

Complete results can be found by visiting the Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing web site at www.fibt.com.

The USBSF appreciates your support of the U.S. team. To make a donation, please log on to www.SharetheRideUSA.com.

For updates on the team throughout the season, follow USBSF on Twitter or log onto www.USBSF.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:

1. Thomas Florschuetz and Richard Adjei Otto (GER) 1:38.17 (49.08, 49.09); 2. Andre Lange and Kevin Kuske (GER) 1:38.22 (49.22, 49.00); 3. Beat Hefti and Thomas Lamparter (SUI) 1:38.23 (49.23, 49.00);...9. Steven Holcomb and Curt Tomasevicz (USA) 1:38.90 (49.65, 49.25);...11. John Napier and Chuck Berkeley (USA) 1:38.94 (49.44, 49.50);...18. Mike Kohn and Steven Langton (USA) 1:39.49 (49.93, 49.56);

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, Kampgrounds of America, 776 Original Marketing, KBC Helmets, Luminox Watch Company, EDAS/Ripxx and Ferris Mfg. Corp. In addition, the USBSF supports the following charitable causes: American Cancer Society, Autism Speaks, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association and Seattle Children’s Hospital.  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, ServiceMaster Clean, National Guard, Lincoln Electric and Racing Electronics.  For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org.

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