Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager
(518) 523-1842, ext 106, abird@usbsf.com
For Immediate Release
January 17, 2009
Hays 13th Again in St. Moritz Two-Man Bobsled World Cup Competition
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland–The scheduled two-man bobsled World Cup competition in St. Moritz, Switzerland took place today on the Olympia Bobrun, where Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) teamed with Chuck Berkeley (Clayton, Calif.) to repeat his 13th place result on Thursday.
“The competition is getting stronger every year,” said Sepp Plozza, U.S. team head coach. “Todd had a challenge returning after two years away from the sport, and he’s been successful in gaining the points he needs.”
Hays and Berkeley crossed the finish line in today’s two-man competition with a combined time of two minutes, 13.36 seconds to finish 13th in a field of 26 sleds from 16 nations.
The U.S. team pushed start times of 5.56 and 5.45 seconds for runs of 1:06.84 and 1:06.52, respectively.
The teams are preparing sleds for the four-man competition, which will take place tomorrow, Jan. 18, in the final European race this World Cup season before moving to North America.
“Todd was able to gain the points he needed today,” said Plozza. “He’s been doing very well in four-man training this week, so we hope we can do well here tomorrow.”
Canadians Pierre Lueders and David Bissett swept the two-man races this week by winning his second-consecutive gold medal today with a two-run total of 2:12.08 after sliding runs of 1:06.23 and 1:05.87.
Defending World Cup champion Andre Lange rebounded from his 11th place result on Thursday by claiming silver with brakeman Martin Putze. The German team was just a fingernail’s distance from the gold, finishing 0.02 seconds from the Canadians with a total time of 2:12.10 (1:06.23, 1:05.87).
Swiss athletes Beat Hefti and Thomas Lamparter had the home track advantage, and slid a bronze medal performance with a combined time of 2:12.23 after sliding runs of 1:06.36 and 1:05.87. Hefti and Lamparter continue to blow away the competition at the start, pushing times of 5.30 and 5.29 seconds.
The top four sleds crossed the finish line with an identical time of one minute, 5.87 seconds in the second heat, which is a rarity on a longer track like St. Moritz that stretches 1,700-meters.
“It’s crazy for there to be so many identical times on a track this long,” said Plozza. “It was a pretty good race to watch.”
Don’t miss the action by watching today’s events with video on demand by visiting www.UniversalSports.com.
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 about the U.S. team, please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager, at (518) 523-1842, ext. 106, or abird@usbsf.com.
Results:
1. Pierre Lueders and David Bissett (CAN) 2:12.08 (1:06.21, 1:05.87); 2. Andre Lange and Martin Putze (GER) 2:12.10 (1:06.23, 1:05.87); 3. Beat Hefti and Thomas Lamparter (SUI) 2:12.23 (1:06.36, 1:05.87);…13. Todd Hays and Chuck Berkeley (USA) 2:13.36 (1:06.84, 1:06.52);
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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