Bobsled and Skeleton Team Selection Races Conclude

Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager

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

For Immediate Release

October 24, 2009

Bobsled and Skeleton Team Selection Races Conclude 

PARK CITY, Utah- U.S. bobsled and skeleton athletes competed in the final team selection race today at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah.  Athletes warmed up in a wintry mix this morning, and battled varying conditions of wind, sun and rain throughout the day.  The 2009-2010 World Cup team will be announced this evening once results have been tallied. 

Women’s Skeleton

Noelle Pikus-Pace (Orem, Utah) was victorious in the women’s skeleton field again today, sweeping all four team selection races. 

“I really wanted to have fun today while still focusing on the race,” said Pikus-Pace.  “That was my last team trials race ever, because I’ll retire after this season.  It’s strange to think about, but it makes me want to give over one-hundred percent every run I take.”

Pikus-Pace slid to the finish with a combined time of 1:45.90 to claim the final win after sliding times of 52.20 and 53.70 seconds.  A crowd of family and friends gathered at the finish, showering Pikus-Pace with hugs.   

Courtney Yamada-Anderson (Boise, Idaho) crossed the finish line in 1:46.05 after sliding runs of 52.84 and 53.21 seconds for second place.  Yamada-Anderson took her helmet off at the end of the run in tears, announcing her retirement from the sport as her teammates embraced her. 

“This has been an amazing journey,” said an emotional Yamada-Anderson.  “I’ve had incredible support from my family, friends, coaches and teammates, but I’m going to move on and start a new chapter.”

Yamada-Anderson paused to recollect her thoughts, fighting back tears before continuing.  “It’s really hard to leave it behind, but it’s time.  I want to thank everyone for their support over the years.  Greg Sand helped me claim two push championship titles, and I feel like I was able to accomplish a lot in my career.  But it will still be extremely difficult to say goodbye.”

Rebecca Sorensen (Fort Collins, Colo.) finished third with a combined time of 1:46.27 after clocking runs of 52.52 and 53.74 seconds.  Sorensen finished in the top three in all four team selection competitions.  

“If it wasn’t for ORDA [Olympic Regional Development Authority] in Lake Placid and the track crew here in Park City, none of this could have happened,” said Sorensen.  “I’m grateful for the opportunity, and the beginning of the season has felt like a dream. 

“I haven’t been on this side of the fence before, because I’m used to finishing just one spot away from where I want to be.  I’m trying to stay in the moment, but I’m also thinking about other people on the team and how the results affect them.”

Sorensen was emotional as she commented on how the team will feel the gap left by Yamada-Anderson’s absence this season. 

Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) was granted a medical waiver onto the World Cup team and was exempt from competing in team trials. 

Men’s Skeleton

John Daly (Smithtown, N.Y.) made his bid for the men’s skeleton team by winning his second selection race today by only two-hundredths of a second with a total time of 1:43.12.  

“Oh my gosh, that was amazing,” said Daly with a shocked expression.  “Did I really win?  Wow, I’m so happy.  I already bought my ticket home, but maybe I need to cancel it now.”

Daly slid runs of 51.15 and 51.97 seconds, second and first fastest of the day, respectively.

Athletes gathered around to congratulate Daly as he stood in the middle of the finish house in disbelief. Zach Lund (Salt Lake City, Utah) was the last competitor to take his run in the men’s skeleton field, and he immediately shook Daly’s hand in celebration.

“Lund helped me out after the first race,” said Daly.  “We both messed up, and he said that we could move up together in the next race.  That’s what we did, and I really owe him a lot.  I’m very thankful, I can’t believe it.”

Lund slid the fastest run of the first heat, 50.96 seconds, but lost his lead to Daly in the second heat with a run of 51.97 seconds.  Lund slid into second place with a total time of 1:43.14, which was still enough to secure his position on the World Cup team.  

Stokes Aitken (Salt Lake City, Utah) finished third with a combined time of 1:43.54 after sliding to the finish in 51.22 and 52.32 seconds. 

Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.) was granted a medical waiver onto the team after suffering a leg injury in Lake Placid, N.Y. and did not participate in the last three selection races. 

Women’s Bobsled

Erin Pac (Farmington, Conn.) pocketed another win today in the women’s bobsled competition with teammate Michelle Rzepka (Novi, Mich.), solidifying her position on the team. 

“I’m really happy,” said Pac.  “Now it’s time to get down to business and focus on nailing down the Whistler course next week.”

Pac and Rzpeka had a mishap at the start in the first run, popping the sled out of the groove, causing a slower push time of 5.30 seconds.  Despite the time lost at the start, the duo slid to the finish in 51.69 seconds for the lead.

The duo extended their lead in the second heat with a push time of 5.24 seconds for a run of 52.29 to win the race with a combined time of 1:43.98. 

“We recollected ourselves and put together a good second heat,” said Pac.  “It’s nice to have these races finished so that we can focus on the competitive season.”

Bree Schaaf (Bremerton, Wash.) teamed with Emily Azevedo (Chico, Calif.) to finish second with a total time of 1:44.24.  Schaaf navigated the 2002 Olympic course in 51.95 and 52.29 seconds in the two-heat race. 

In third was the team of Jamia Jackson (Lake City, Fla.) and Ingrid Marcum (Elmhurst, Ill.) with a two-run total of 1:44.74.  Jackson and Marcum slid runs of 52.15 and 52.59 seconds.

Shauna Rohbock (Park City, Utah) was granted a bye onto the team based on her 2008-2009 season results and was excused from racing in team trials. 

Men’s Bobsled

Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) teamed with Chuck Berkeley (Clayton, Calif.), Steve Langton (Melrose, Mass.) and Chris Fogt (Alpine, Utah) to claim today’s four-man bobsled win with a total time of 1:39.14 after sliding runs of 49.66 and 49.48 seconds.

“Every time I race in trials I get nervous,” said Hays.  “I’m happy to be in this position.  These guys are great competitors.  I had a great push crew with me today, and this is definitely the deepest U.S. team I’ve seen in my career. “

John Napier (Lake Placid, N.Y.) and his crew of Jamie Moriarty (Winnetka, Ill.), Bill Schuffenhauer (Ogden, Utah) and Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, Ohio) tied team Hays in the first heat with a run of 49.66 seconds.  Napier drove his BoDyn sled to the finish in 49.72 seconds in the final heat, placing the team just twenty-four hundredths of a second behind team Hays with a total time of 1:39.38.

In third was the team of Grayson Fertig (New York City, N.Y.), Laszlo Vandrascek (Phoenix, Ariz.), Theron Johnson (Wheaton, Md.) and Tim O’Mara (Salt Lake City, Utah) with a combined time of 1:40.27.  Fertig navigated his sled down the 15-curves of the course in 49.86 and 50.41 seconds.

Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) was given a bye onto the 2009-2010 World Cup team based on his last season’s results and did not race in the team selection races.

An official announcement of the 2009-2010 World Cup team will be made this afternoon after race scores have been tallied and the USBSF Selection Committee has met. 

For additional information, please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager, at (518) 961-1543, or abird@usbsf.com.  

Results:

Women’s Skeleton

1. Noelle Pikus-Pace 1:45.90 (52.20, 53.70); 2. Courtney Yamada-Anderson 1:46.05 (52.84, 53.21); 3. Rebecca Sorensen 1:46.27 (52.53, 53.74);  4. Kimber Gabryszak 1:46.45 (52.72, 53.73); 5. Annie O’Shea 1:46.56 (52.86, 53.70); 6. Keslie Tomlinson 1:47.11 (53.15, 53.96); 7. Rachelle Rasmussen 1:48.01 (53.71, 54.30); 8. Tracey Anderson 1:48.19 (53.76, 54.43); 9. Joy Bryant 1:49.38 (54.45, 54.93); 10. Cassie Revelli 1:50.03 (54.70, 55.33); 11. Sabrina Hiteshew-Wilson 1:50.30 (54.64, 55.66);

Men’s Skeleton

1. John Daly 1:43.12 (51.15, 51.97); 2. Zach Lund 1:43.14 (50.96, 52.18); 3. Stokes Aitken 1:43.54 (51.22, 52.32); 4. Caleb Smith 1:43.66 (51.35, 52.31); 5. Kyle Tress 1:43.90 (51.52, 52.38); 6. Matt Antoine 1:43.98 (51.47, 52.51); 7. Luke Schulz 1:44.06 (51.62, 52.44); 8. Chris Burgess 1:44.78 (52.04, 52.74); 9. Brad Stewart 1:45.11 (51.92, 53.19); 10. Nick Vienneau 1:45.12 (52.30, 52.82); 11. Chris Nurre 1:46.57 (53.11, 53.46); 12. Matt Griff 1:47.82 (54.19, 53.76);

Women’s Bobsled

1. Erin Pac and Michelle Rzepka 1:43.98 (51.69, 52.29); 2. Bree Schaaf and Emily Azevedo 1:44.24 (51.95, 52.29); 3. Jamia Jackson and Ingrid Marcum 1:44.74 (52.15, 52.59); 

Men’s Bobsled (Four-man)

1. Hays, Berekely, Langton and Fogt 1:39.14 (49.66, 49.48); 2; Napier, Moriarty, Kreitzburg and Schuffenhauer 1:39.38 (49.66, 49.72); 3. Fertig, Vandrascek, Johnson and O’Mara 1:40.27 (49.86, 50.41); 4. Kohn, Cunningham, Burns and Sprague 1:40.35 (50.14, 50.21); 5. Bradley, Carriel, Beckom and Butner 1:40.65 (50.27, 50.38);

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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