Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager
(518) 523-1842, ext 106, abird@usbsf.com
For Immediate Release
January 16, 2009
Pac Fourth in Women’s Bobsled World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland–The U.S. team rebounded in the women’s bobsled World Cup competition in St. Moritz, Switzerland today, placing both sleds into the top six. Erin Pac (Farmington, Conn.) continues to be within reach of the podium, finishing fourth today, while teammateShauna Rohbock (Park City, Utah) finished sixth.
“I’m so happy to have done better than yesterday, and I was a little calmer today,” said Pac. “I was all over in the straightway in yesterday’s race, but today I was able to stay away from the walls and keep the sled running straight.”
Pac has been knocking on the podium all season, finishing fourth in four World Cup competitions so far this season. Teamed with Elana Meyers(Douglasville, Ga.), Pac finished with a two-run total of two minutes, 19.13 seconds after crossing the finish line in 1:10.05 and 1:09.08.
Meyers had to sit out in the beginning of the season with mononucleosis, but has fully recovered to emerge as one the top U.S. push athletes. Pac teamed with Michelle Rzepka (Novi, Mich.) in yesterday’s competition to break the start record with a push time of 5.82 seconds, and Meyers and Pac were close today with a second run start time of 5.84 seconds.
“I’m so proud of both Michelle and Elana,” said Pac. “They stepped it up when I needed it, and I hope we can continue to have the fastest starts in the field.”
Rohbock teamed with Valerie Fleming (Park City, Utah) to finish sixth with a combined time of 2:19.35. The 2006 Olympic silver medalists pushed start times of 6.03 and 5.99 to clock runs of 1:10.13 and 1:09.22, respectively.
“Maybe I should have hit a few walls to go faster,” joked Rohbock. “I don’t know why, but I lost speed down the track despite having really good runs.
“I’m frustrated, especially after winning a gold medal last week,” said Rohbock. “It will be nice to head back to North America now and go home for a few days. I know the sled was running well in Lake Placid early this season, and we’re looking forward to World Championships.”
Sandra Kiriasis stretched her lead in overall points today by adding gold to her collection of medals this season with a combined time of 2:17.40. Teamed with Berit Wiacker, the German team led the field by 0.96 seconds after crossing the finish with the fastest times of the day, 1:09.20 and 1:08.20, for the victory.
German teammates Cathleen Martini and Janine Tischer continued their medal streak, claiming silver with a total time of 2:18.36 after sliding runs of 1:09.73 and 1:08.63. Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke from Great Britain carried momentum from yesterday’s competition to repeat their bronze medal performance with a two-run total of 2:18.75.
The two Canadian sleds entered into today’s competition hit a streak of bad luck, and neither sled was able to finish. Kaillie Humphries was in second after the first heat, but crashed in corner Horseshoe in the second run. Lisa Szabon was in the mix after her first heat, but was disqualified for an overweight sled.
Don’t miss the action by visiting www.UniversalSports.com to watch Pac inch closer to the podium each week. Complete results can be found by visiting the web site for the Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing at www.fibt.com. For additional information, please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager, at (518) 523-1842, ext. 106, or abird@usbsf.com.
Results:
1. Sandra Kiriasis and Berit Wiacker (GER) 2:17.40 (1:09.20, 1:08.20); 2. Cathleen Martini and Janine Tischer (GER) 2:18.36 (1:09.73, 1:08.63); 3. Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke (GBR) 2:18.75 (1:09.68, 1:09.07); 4. Erin Pac and Elana Meyers (USA) 2:19.13 (1:10.05, 1:09.08);…6. Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming (USA) 2:19.35 (1:10.13, 1:09.22)
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, Vilter Manufacturing, KBC Helmets, Luminox Watch Company, ULU Boots 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 athttp://bobsled.teamusa.org.
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