Savannah Graybill on the medal stand.

SIGULDA, Latvia (December 13, 2021) –Savannah Graybill (Denver, Pa.) is ranked third overall in Intercontinental Cup points after claiming silver in the women’s skeleton race in Sigulda today. Kendall Wesenberg (Modesto, Calif.) and Sara Roderick (Truro, Mass.) finished 11th and 12th, respectively. Andrew Blaser (Meridian, Idaho) was the top American in the men’s competition with a 15th place finish. Daniel Barefoot (Johnstown, Pa.) was 18th, and Stephen Garbett (Parker, Colo.) finished 21st.

“It feels great to get the result that I know I’m capable of and it’s a nice way to head into the holidays,” Graybill said.

Graybill had a strong performance in only her third competition on the Latvian track. She posted nearly identical start times of 5.32 and 5.33 seconds for the second fastest downtimes of 52.70 and 53.13 seconds. Graybill claimed silver, which is her seventh career Intercontinental Cup medal, with a combined time of 1:45.83.

“Sigulda is a very tricky track and there are plenty of places where you can build speed, but also plenty of places where you can lose it,” Graybill said. “I came into the race week knowing I needed to focus on 10-13, and I knew that if I could stay consistent through those corners that I could be in the race for the medals.”

Graybill is ranked third with 534 points in overall Intercontinental Cup standings with two races to go this season.

Only Susanne Kreher from Germany was faster than Graybill with a two-run total of 1:45.43. German Stefanie Votz earned bronze with a combined time of 1:46.00.

Wesenberg and Roderick finished back-to-back in 11th and 12th place. Wesenberg pushed start times of 5.35 and 5.31 seconds for runs of 53.27 and 53.77 seconds, respectively. She finished 11th with a total time of 1:47.04. Roderick clocked the fastest start times of the field, powering off the block in 5.08 and 5.10 seconds. She crossed the finish line in 53.43 and 53.70 seconds for a combined time of 1:47.13 to finish 12th. This was Wesenberg’s third time racing in Sigulda, and Roderick’s first.

Blaser led the Americans in the men’s race with a 15th place finish. He pushed a start time of 4.76 seconds in both heats for runs of 51.93 and 52.05 seconds to finish 15th with a total time of 1:43.98. This was Blaser’s second time racing on the Latvian track.

Barefoot finished 18th with a combined time of 1:44.35 after clocking runs of 51.76 and 52.59 seconds. He pushed off the block with start times of 4.80 and 4.81. Garbett had the 21st ranked downtime of 52.49 seconds in the first heat, missing the top-20 cutoff for the final run. Barefoot and Garbett had never raced in Sigulda before today.

Evgeniy Rukosuev of Russia was victorious with a two-run total of 1:41.59. German Felix Keisinger claimed silver in 1:42.49, and Zheng Yin from China finished third in 1:42.50.

The Intercontinental Cup will break for the holiday and will make its final stop in Altenberg, Germany with double competitions from January 5-6.

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

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Results

Women’s skeleton

1. Susanne Kreher (GER) 1:45.43 (52.66, 52.77);

2. Savannah Graybill (USA) 1:45.83 (52.70, 53.13);

3. Stefanie Votz (GER) 1:46.00 (52.87, 53.13);

11. Kendall Wesenberg (USA) 1:47.04 (53.27, 53.77);

12. Sara Roderick (USA) 1:47.13 (53.43, 53.70);

Men’s skeleton

1. Evgeniy Rukosuev (RUS) 1:41.59 (50.65, 50.94);

2. Felix Keisinger (GER) 1:42.49 (51.06, 51.43);

3. Zheng Yin (CHN) 1:42.50 (50.71, 51.79);

15. Andrew Blaser (USA) 1:43.98 (51.93, 52.05);

18. Daniel Barefoot (USA) 1:44.35 (51.76, 52.59);

21. Stephen Garbett (USA) (52.49, DNS);

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.

Graybill earns silver in Sigulda’s Intercontinental Cup

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