Dec 16, 2024
USA Luge’s Sophia Kirkby, front, and Chevonne Forgan celebrate after finishing a women’s doubles run at the FIL Luge World Cup in Oberhof, Germany on Saturday. (Provided photo — FIL/Michael Kristen)
OBERHOF, Germany– For the second time in three races, the United States women’s doubles team of Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby stood on the podium at a World Cup luge event, taking the bronze medal on Saturday.
The duo then helped the U.S. place fifth in the team relay competition on Sunday, while Ashley Farquharson was the top-finishing U.S. women’s singles sled, placing fifth and Jonny Gustafson led the nation’s efforts in the men’s singles race by finishing 12th.
In men’s doubles, Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa led the effort for Team USA. Following a gold medal at yesterday’s qualifying Nation’s Cup race, the duo finished in ninth.
Team Austria wrapped up a dominant weekend at a traditional German stronghold. After winning the women’s doubles and singles events yesterday, the Austrian men swept the top four men’s singles spots. That success was followed up by a gold medal in the team relay.
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Women’s doubles
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Forgan, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and Kirkby, of Lake Placid, utilized two astonishingly consistent runs to land on the podium in a time of 1 minute, 25.576 seconds. Their two start times differed by .001 seconds, while their finish times were only .008 seconds apart.
“We’re so happy to get back on the podium,” Forgan said. “I’m really happy to have two good runs today.”
“This year, I thought the conditions were way better than last year,” Kirkby said. “It was a great turnout and lovely weather here in Oberhof for a World Cup.”
The race also marked the debut of Maya Chan of Chicago, Illinois and Sophia Gordon of Sussex, Wisconsin, who placed ninth in 1:26.641. Chan competed with Reannyn Weiler of Whitesboro for several seasons, while Gordon is still a member of the Junior National Team but plans to focus on doubles for the foreseeable future.
The race was won by Selina Egle and Lara Kipp of Austria in 1:24.844. They also set a track record of 42.382. Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal of Germany were second in 1:25.105.
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Women’s singles
Farquharson, of Park City, Utah, utilized a particularly strong second heat to move from seventh to fifth place, where she ultimately finished. She posted a two-run combined time of 1:24.426. Three-time Olympian Summer Britcher of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania was 14th in 1:24.967. Emma Erickson of Park City, Utah finished 20th in 1:25.787. Emily Sweeney of Lake Placid missed the competition due to chronic neck issues.
Austrian Madeleine Egle, sister of Selina, won the women’s race in 1:24.019. Teammate Lisa Schulte placed second with a time of 1:24.175 and Germany’s Julia Taubitz was third in 1:24.194 .
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Men’s doubles
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Mueller, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, and Haugsjaa of Framingham, Massachusetts, the reigning Junior World Champions, clocked a time of 1:23.893. This is the duo’s first season on the National Team, despite still being eligible for Junior competitions. Olympians Zack DiGregorio of Medway, Massachusetts and Sean Hollander of Lake Placid placed 11th in 1:24.274.
Dana Kellogg of Chesterfield, Massachusetts and Frank Ike of Lititz, Pennsylvania are back at the team’s headquarters in Lake Placid. During last week’s competition in Igls, Austria, Kellogg dislocated his left shoulder at the start of the second run. He will undergo surgery today.
Germany’s Hannes Orlamuender and Paul Gubitz, who won their first and only race in Oberhof last season, crossed the finish in 1:23.275 to win once again. Countrymen Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt were second in 1:23.391. The Austrian duo of Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl were third in 1:23.483.
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Team relay
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The first relay of the season took place a week later than anticipated, following electrical problems at the venue of last week’s World Cup event in Igls, Austria. Those issues forced the cancellation of the event.
The United States kicked off their effort with Farquharson, who had the team sitting in bronze medal contention. Mueller and Haugsjaa competed in their first relay. The duo faltered out of curve 13, creating a time gap that would ultimately keep Team USA off the podium. Olympian Jonny Gustafson of Massena, was up next, followed by Forgan and Kirkby. Team USA finished fifth in a time of 3 minutes, 14.828 seconds.
Team Austria won the event with a time of 3:12.865, followed by Germany in second with 3:13.281. Italy was third in 3:14.239.
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Men’s singles
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In men’s singles, Gustafson finished 12th. He posted a two-run combined time of 1:26.601. An injured Tucker West was not able to pull a full start and placed 22nd. Since West sat outside the top-20 sleds following the first heat, he did not advance to take a second run. His time was 43.826. Matt Greiner of Park City, Utah placed 24th in 43.923. Aidan Mueller of West Islip, a Junior National Team athlete who is racing with the National Team, placed 28th in 44.044.
Last week on their home track, the Austrian men’s team accomplished a rare feat. They entered four sleds in the competition and occupied the top four places on the results sheet. This week, they repeated their dominance. Only this time, it was at a track typically owned by the German home team. Jonas Mueller set a start record and was first in 1:25.321, while Nico Gleirscher was second in 1:25.556. David Gleirscher, Nico’s brother, was third in 1:25.836. Wolfgang Kindl was fourth in 1:25.877.
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World Cup standings
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In women’s doubles, Degenhardt/Rosenthal lead with 255 points. Egle/Kipp are second with 250 points, while Forgan/Kirkby are third with 225. Chan and Gordon are 13th with 39 points.
Taubitz sits atop the women’s rankings with 255 points, Egle is second with 246 and Schulte is third with 225. Sweeney, who held third until Saturday, now sits in fifth with 145. Britcher is eighth with 124 points, Farquharson is 10th with 118 and Erickson 21st with 57.
The men’s doubles points race is led by Toni Eggert and Florian Mueller of Germany with 240. Latvia’s Martins Bots and Roberts Plume are second with 231. Steu/Kindl sit in third with 210. Mueller/Haugsjaa hold ninth with 108 points, while DiGregorio/Hollander are 10th with 106. Kellogg/Ike are 20th with 58 points.
In men’s singles, Nico Gleirscher sits in first place with 231 points. Jonas Mueller is second with 227 points, while Kindl is third with 205 points. Gustafson is 10th with 121 points, West 15th with 72, Greiner 25th with 52 and Aidan Mueller is 28th with 37.
Following the first team relay event of the season, Austria is leading with 100 points. In second is Germany with 85 and Italy is third with 70. Team USA is fifth with 55 points.
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