TEAM USA CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN 2024 SLIDING COMPETITIONS

LILLEHAMMER, NORWAY (Jan 28, 2024) - The IBSF World Cup wrapped up its leg in Lillehammer today after a weekend of great successes for Team USA.

January 26 marked the first day of competition in which Mystique Ro earned an impressive 2nd-place finish in Women’s Skeleton with her two-run time of 1:45.99, also setting a new track start record.

“Training this week was a challenge with planning for the weather. So I took a gamble for the race day - I had a setup that I had not used in training. My goal was to push sub-5 and fight to take down the track record. Unfortunately, I allowed some key corners to get away from me and that cost me during both runs. I am walking away from Lillehammer with a PB [personal best] down time, PB push time, start record and silver medal- pretty happy about that,” Ro shared about her sliding performance. 

“I am very proud of Mystique for her performance today. She has clearly established herself as the best starter in the sport and we saw that on display today. Even though the runs may have left her wanting a bit more on the track, there is growth and improvement each week. Two medals for her this season so far and I feel there is still much more to come for her,” Matt Antoine, Head Skeleton Coach for USABS, also elaborated on her silver-medal finish.

Also in Women’s Skeleton, Katie Uhlaender slid into an eighth-place finish with her combined time of 1:46.32. Michelle Toukan and Sara Roderick placed 20th and 25th, with times of 1:47.58 and 1:47.88, respectively. 

In Men’s Skeleton, Austin Florian placed 15th with a time of 1:43.88, Dan Barefoot placed 20th with a time of 1:44.23 and Hunter Williams placed 29th with a one-run time of 52.37.

The second day of competition, January 27, brought more impressive finishes for Team USA. In Women’s Monobob, Kaysha Love slid into a first-place finish with her combined run time of 1:48.52, setting a new track record in the process.

“I am incredibly grateful for my support system of teammates, coaches, and family that have helped me through this season. It is challenging learning a new track each week but it is also been a massive blessing getting the opportunity to compete alongside these incredible athletes. I am very much looking forward to racing with Azaria [Hill] tomorrow,” she shared.

Also in Women’s Monobob, Elana Meyers Taylor placed tenth with a time of 1:49.55. In 2-Man Bobsled, Frank Del Duca and Manteo Mitchell placed fifth with a two-run time of 1:41.77

The last day of the Lillehammer leg of the World Cup brought even more exciting action for the Stars & Stripes; in 2-Woman Bobsled, Love again slid into a podium finish and also earned a track record, this time in the form of a bronze medal with teammate Azaria Hill after a combined run time of 1:43.85.

“Getting a Top 3 finish and start record with Kaysha is such a great feeling! Kaysha is an amazing pilot, she not only speaks life into you but confidence as well! I have complete belief in her and everything she brings to the table as a pilot. Being behind her as her brake woman is such a privilege, her mindset and work ethic is a rarity and contagious. That is something I take immense pride in; is our work ethic. We work hard together, we train hard together, we push hard together, and most of all we have fun together!” Hill shared about their exciting finish.

“I am extremely proud of Azaria for stepping up during this World Cup race. All her hard work is paying off and in her rookie season she will walk away with a well-deserved start record,” Love shared about her 2-Woman competition alongside Hill.

Also in 2-Woman, Meyers Taylor and Emily Renna placed sixth with their combined time of 1:44.36 after two runs.

In 4-Man bobsled, Del Duca alongside Hakeem Abdul-Saboor, Adrian Adams and Mitchell placed 13th with a time of 1:40.96.

Outside of the World Cup division, USABS has been seeing some memorable performances as well.

Last weekend in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Team USA participated in the Europe Cup (EC) races being held there.

The competition kicked off on January 18th with Kris Horn and Jace Johnson placing ninth in 2-Man bobsled with their time of 2:17.27 and Geoff Gabois alongside Bryce Cheek placing 12th with their time of 2:17.59. 

Also on the 18th, Lauren Brzozowski placed fourth in Women’s Monobob with her time of 2:27.41, followed by Sylvia Hoffman in tenth with her 2:28.81 time and Riley Tejcek in 11th with her 2:29.11 run time.

On the 19th, EC competitions continued with 4-Man and 2-Woman bobsled. In 4-Man, Gadois, Chase Blueberg, Cheek and Collin Storms placed tenth with a time of 2:14.55 while Horn, David Simon, Johnson and Darius Joseph placed 14th with a time of 2:15.49. In 2-Woman, Brzozowski alongside teammate Jestena Mattson placed sixth with a time of 2:20.33. Tejcek and Macy Tarlton placed 13th with their time of 2:22.89.

In the youth sector of competition, Team USA had the exciting opportunity to compete in both bobsled and skeleton in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) held in the Gangwon province of South Korea. 

On January 22, Emily Bradley placed eighth in Girl’s Monobob with a time of 1:55.43. Also on the 22nd, Biancha Emery placed 16th in Girl’s Skeleton with her time of 1:57.06.

On the 23rd, the boys competed. In Boy’s Monobob, John Lansing placed ninth with his time of 1:51.22 and Liam McKenna placed 18th with his time of 1:53.54. In Boy’s Skeleton, Noah Park, who also had the honor of being a flagbearer in the YOG opening ceremonies, placed 14th with his time of 1:51.67 while his twin brother, Baden Park, placed 18th with a time of 1:53.43.

The IBSF World Cup will continue in Sigulda, Latvia on February 2nd.

###

About USA Bobsled/Skeleton

USA Bobsled/Skeleton is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton racing in the United States. Based in Lake Placid, NY, USA Bobsled/Skeleton oversees the development and training of American athletes at all levels of competition.