Photo: Bob Balk (middle) on the medal stand.

Photo credit: IBSF

PARK CITY, Utah (December 7, 2021) – Bob Balk (Moravia, N.Y.) continued his medal streak, winning the third Para Bobsleigh World Cup race of the season in Park City yesterday. Balk led the U.S. with gold and bronze medal performances in the opening races in Lake Placid, N.Y., and continues to lead in points in only his first season in the sport.

“Last year I started sliding in Lake Placid,” Balk said. “My first bobsled here (in Park City) was this week. I was expecting to have fun and learn a new track.”

Balk posted the fastest first run time of 55.25 seconds, and he narrowly held onto the lead with the third best time of 55.78 seconds in the final heat. He was victorious by a mere 0.05 seconds with a combined time of 1:51.03.

Jonas Frei from Switzerland earned the silver medal with a two-run total of 1:51.08. He slid the second and fourth fastest times of the competition. Israel Blanco of Spain had only the fifth best time of the first heat, but moved into bronze medal position with the fastest second heat time of 55.61 seconds. He finished third with a cumulative time of 1:51.11. 

Will Castillo (Orlando, FL) had the third fastest time of 55.77 seconds in the second heat, and he finished fifth in a packed field with a combined time of 1:51.35. Steven Jacobo (Gardnerville, Nev.) clocked a total time of 1:52.20 for eighth place.

Two races were scheduled for the Park City event, but high winds forced the cancellation of the first race.

The Para Bobsleigh World Cup will take a break before making its third stop in Igls, Austria with double races on February 11th and 12th. 

                                           

For media inquiries, please contact USABS Marketing and Communications Director Amanda Bird at amanda.bird@usabs.com.

###

Results

1. Bob Balk (USA) 1:51.03 (55.25, 55.78);

2. Jonas Frei (SUI) 1:51.08 (55.29, 55.79);

3. Israel Blanco (SPN) 1:51.11 (55.50, 55.61);

5. Guillermo Castillo (USA) 1:51.35 (55.58, 55.77);

8. Steven Jacobo (USA) 1:52.20 (56.11, 56.09);

About USA Bobsled/Skeleton

USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS), based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. For more information, please visit the USABS website at www.usabs.com. Individuals interested in becoming a bobsled or skeleton athlete can visit www.usabobsledskeleton.com.