Team USA’s Sophie Kirkby, left, and Chevonne Forgan interact to collect a medal during the FIFA World Cup Mega Cup on Saturday in Lake Placid. (Corporation photo – Parker O’Brien)
LAKE PLACID — On an emotional final day of the FIL Luge World Cup in Lake Placid on Saturday, the American women finished off a successful weekend with three medals in the speed division races.
Sprints feature the top 15 athletes in each discipline based on their finish in World Cup races, with individual sprints starting at a lower point on the track than traditional races, and emphasizing driving skill over speed. in the beginning. Instead of start time, initial velocities are displayed. Points earned during sprint races are counted toward the total World Cup points.
The USA recorded five medals over the weekend, including gold in men’s doubles on Friday and bronze in women’s singles on Saturday morning.
–
Women’s individual race
Team USA’s Ashley Farquharson competes in the FIFA World Cup on Saturday in Lake Placid. (Corporation photo – Parker O’Brien)
–
After missing out on the podium just hours earlier, Team USA’s Ashley Farquharson came ready to slide into the women’s individual sprint competition.
Farquharson, from Park City, Utah, claimed her second World Cup medal after claiming silver in a time of 37.550 seconds – she had previously won silver in the World Cup team relay in Beijing, China in 2021. Fellow American Emily Sweeney of Lake Placid took bronze in 37.565. German Julia Taubitz won the race with a time of 37.451 seconds.
“I felt like I had a lot of speed in the first race, and I knew if I could run well, it would be there for me.” Farquharson said. “Especially because I don’t have a stronger start. I was really proud of myself that I was able to throw it clean here.
Sweeney, who collected her eighth World Cup medal, said she was a little surprised by the third-place results.
“I was definitely disappointed in the first race.” She said. “My performance was definitely not where I wanted it to be, so I’m really happy that I was able to win a medal of some sort. I feel grateful.”
Team USA’s Summer Bretcher of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, fell to fifth place with a time of 37.622. Emma Erickson of Park City did not qualify for the competition.
–
Women’s doubles race
–
At the first-ever World Cup in Lake Placid last weekend, American duo Shevon Forgan and Sophie Kirkby took silver in the women’s pairs sprint event.
Forgan, of Chelmsford, Mass., and Kirkby, of Rye Brook, ran a clean run in a time of 38.443, in front of a crowd of family and friends.
“It feels great to be here on the main track in Lake Placid,” Kirkby said. “With all these family, friends and local fans in attendance, it was a really great feeling to win this silver medal in front of everyone cheering us on.”
After finishing fourth in the women’s double on Friday, Kirkby said this was definitely her best race of the weekend.
“We definitely gave our best today.” Morgan said. “In the first race of the season yesterday, there were some jitters and nerves, and we came out of it. We felt really comfortable and had a good run.”
Austria’s Selina Eagle and Lara Kipp won the gold medal with a time of 38.340 seconds, while Germany’s Dagana Ettberger and Saskia Schirmer came in third place with a time of 38.477 seconds.
Americans Maya Chan of Chicago, Illinois, and Rhianne Wheeler of Whitesboro finished sixth with a time of 38.806.
–
Men’s individual race
–
In U.S. Olympian Chris Mazdzer’s final competitive race, the American men did not produce their strongest performance in the men’s individual sprint event.
Massena’s Johnny Gustafson led the U.S. men in ninth place with a time of 33.765. Tucker landed West Ridgefield, Connecticut, in 12th place with a 34.046, and Mazdzer, formerly of Saranac Lake and currently from Salt Lake City, Utah, finished 13th with a 34.107. Hunter Harris of East Fairfield, Vermont, was 15th with a time of 34.203.
German Max Langenhahn won the gold medal with a time of 33.257 seconds, while his German colleague Felix Loch came in second place with a time of 33.560 seconds. Austrian Nico Glercher came in third place with a time of 33.595 seconds.
–
Men’s doubles race
–
Latvia’s Martins Boots and Robert Blom won the men’s doubles sprint event, finishing with a time of 37.872 seconds. The Austrians Thomas Stew and Wolfgang Kindl took second place with a time of 37.877 seconds, while the Germans Tobias Wendel and Tobias Arlt took third place with a time of 38.019 seconds.
After winning its first ever World Cup medal on Friday, the U.S. men’s doubles team of Zach DiGregorio of Midway, Massachusetts, and Sean Hollander of Lake Placid, finished sixth in the men’s doubles sprint event with a time of 38.094 seconds. Team USA’s Dana Kellogg of Chesterfield, Massachusetts, and Frank Icke of Lititz, Pennsylvania, finished 11th with a time of 38.463 seconds.
The USA Luge team has made a triumphant start to their World Cup campaign, claiming three medals in the sprint event. The team’s impressive performance showcases their talent and determination on the international stage, solidifying their status as a force to be reckoned with in the sport of luge. With this early success, the USA Luge team is poised for a strong season, and fans can look forward to watching their continued success in upcoming competitions.