Photo credit: Molly Choma

PARK CITY, Utah (March 4, 2021)– Austin Florian (Southington, Conn.) and Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) won their second consecutive respective skeleton team trials races in Park City tonight to earn the 2021 USA Skeleton National Championship titles. Yesterday’s two heats were combined with today’s two heats to determine this season’s national champions. Athletes will now travel to Lake Placid, N.Y. to continue selection races.

“We are so grateful for the track crew and the Utah Olympic Park for helping us put together these races, and with track record conditions,” said USA Skeleton Head Coach Tuffy Latour. “It made for some really exciting races.”

Uhlaender and Megan Henry (Roxbury, Conn.) tied for yesterday’s team trials race win. Uhlaender pulled ahead today, winning by 0.22 seconds with a combined time of 1:39.29. The four-time Olympian posted start times of 5.10 and 5.06 for runs of 49.60 and 49.69 seconds to take the lead. With yesterday’s tie for first place and today’s win, Uhlaender secured the women’s skeleton national title with a four-run combined time of 3:18.28.

“I feel like I’ve overcome the mental hurdles from the last few years,” Uhlaender said. “ I really like having trials at the end of the season. It’s given me an opportunity to fine tune my skills and get more runs on my sled. I wanted to finish my career happy. I think I have a chance to medal in Beijing, and trials are getting me excited.”

Henry clocked the fastest start times of 4.98 and 4.96 seconds today. She raced to the finish in 49.80 and 49.71 seconds to challenge Uhlaender with a total time of 1:39.51. Henry also finished second in national championships with a four-run total of 3:18.50.

“I really enjoy the competition with Megan,” Uhlaender said. “She pushes me to get better and makes me want my old legs to move faster.”

Sara Roderick (Truro, Mass.) had a successful result today, finishing third with a combined time of 1:40.15. She was sixth yesterday, and her combined times over the two days placed her in third for national championships.

Kelly Curtis (Princeton, N.J.) posted a two-run total of 1:40.24 to finish fourth, followed by Savannah Graybill (Denver, Pa.) in fifth with a 1:40.33, and Mystique Ro (Nokesville, Va.) in sixth with an aggregate time of 1:40.52.

Florian was dominant again from start to finish to earn his second consecutive win in the men’s race. He powered off the block in 4.55 and 4.61 seconds for runs of 48.69 and 48.85 seconds.

“I was aiming to push under the 4.60s, and I’m really happy I did that in today’s first heat,” Florian said.

Florian, a former ski racer, was victorious by 0.23 seconds with a combined time of 1:37.54. His four-heat total time over the two days of 3:14.55 also earned Florian his second career national championship title. Florian said he bettered his personal best downtime in Park City by nearly two seconds, and is leaving the 2002 Olympic track feeling good about his performance.

“I was definitely stressed coming into trials,” Florian said. “This is my weak track, so I wasn’t very confident coming into these races. I was open to learning, and now I’m feeling confident heading into Lake Placid.”

Andrew Blaser (Meridian, Idaho) finished second today to also secure second place in national championships. Blaser pushed consistent start times of 4.71 and 4.72 for runs of 48.73 and 49.04 for a total time of 1:37.77 today. He won the national championship silver medal with a four-run cumulative time of 3:15.04.

Daniel Barefoot (Johnstown, Pa.) clocked identical start times of 4.78 for downtimes of 49.18 and 49.15 to finish third today with a total time of 1:38.33. John Daly (Smithtown, N.Y.) was in fourth with a combined time of 1:38.42, but combined with yesterday’s third place finish, Daly finished third in national championships with an aggregate time of 3:15.91.

Mike Rogals (Orwell, Vt.) was fifth today in 1:38.56, followed by Chris Strup (Defiance, Ohio) in sixth with a 1:38.98.

Tonight’s skeleton races conclude the Park City portion of the team trials. Please contact USABS Marketing & Communications Director Amanda Bird at 518-354-2250, or amanda.bird@usabs.com, with media inquiries.

Results

Women’s team trials race #2

1. Katie Uhlaender 1:39.29 (49.60, 49.69);

2. Megan Henry 1:39.51 (49.80, 49.71);

3. Sara Roderick 1:40.15 (50.13, 50.02);

4. Kelly Curtis 1:40.24 (50.03, 50.21);

5. Savannah Graybill 1:40.33 (50.02, 50.31);

6. Mystique Ro 1:40.52 (50.08, 50.44);

7. Kendall Wesenberg 1:40.56 (50.28, 50.28);

8. Michelle Toukan 1:42.07 (50.69, 51.38);

9. Leah Fair 1:45.80 (53.14, 52.66);

Women’s national championships

1. Katie Uhlaender 3:18.28 (49.42, 49.57, 49.60, 49.69);

2. Megan Henry 3:18.50 (49.42, 49.57, 49.80, 49.71);

3. Sara Roderick 3:20.01 (49.82, 50.04, 50.13, 50.02);

4. Kelly Curtis 3:20.02 (49.74, 50.04, 50.03, 50.21);

5. Mystique Ro 3:20.27 (49.78, 49.97, 50.08, 50.44);

6. Kendall Wesenberg 3:20.30 (49.75, 49.99, 50.28, 50.28);

7. Savannah Graybill 3:20.36 (49.99, 50.04, 50.02, 50.31);

8. Michelle Toukan 3:23.66 (50.70, 50.89, 50.69, 51.38);

9. Leah Fair 3:29.36 (52.04, 51.52, 53.14, 52.66);

Men’s team trials race #2

1. Austin Florian 1:37.54 (48.69, 48.85);

2. Andrew Blaser 1:37.77 (48.73, 49.04);

3. Daniel Barefoot 1:38.33 (49.18, 49.15);

4. John Daly 1:38.42 (49.28, 49.14);

5. Mike Rogals 1:38.56 (49.24, 49.32);

6. Chris Strup 1:38.98 (49.59, 49.39);

7. Stephen Garbett 1:39.05 (49.56, 49.49);

8. Hunter Williams 1:39.09 (49.54, 49.55);

9. Alex Ivanov 1:39.15 (49.53, 49.62);

10. David Demarco 1:39.69 (50.03, 49.66);

11. Kyler Sultemeier 1:40.43 (50.48, 49.95);

Men’s national championships

1. Austin Florian 3:14.55 (48.48, 48.53, 48.69, 48.85);

2. Andrew Blaser 3:15.04 (48.54, 48.73, 48.73, 49.04);

3. John Daly 3:15.91 (48.70, 48.79, 49.28, 49.14);

4. Daniel Barefoot 3:16.13 (48.80, 49.00, 49.18, 49.15);

5. Mike Rogal 3:17.13 (49.26, 49.31, 49.24, 49.32);

6. Stephen Garbett 3:17.37 (48.97, 49.35, 49.56, 49.49);

7. Hunter Williams 3:17.54 (49.19, 49.26, 49.54, 49.55);

8. Chris Strup 3:18.49 (49.96, 49.55, 49.59, 49.39);

9. Alex Ivanov 3:19.16 (48.70, 50.31, 49.53, 49.62);

10. Kyler Sultemeier 3:19.85 (49.54, 49.88, 50.48, 49.95);

11. David Demarco 3:19.95 (49.75, 50.51, 50.03, 49.66);

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.

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Florian and Uhlaender earn national championship titles and win second consecutive skeleton team trials races

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