Codie Bascue during a training run in Sigulda.

 Photo credit: IBSF / Viesturs Lacis

SIGULDA, Latvia (January 2, 2022) – Codie Bascue (Whitehall, N.Y.) and Hakeem Abdul Saboor (Powhatan, Va.) tied for 10th place in today’s two-man bobsled World Cup race in Sigulda. Hunter Church (Cadyville, N.Y.) and Josh Williamson (Lake Mary, Fla.) finished 16th.

“I’m happy with how we finished today, and I think we can take this momentum into the final weeks of racing,” Bascue said. “It feels good to be battling for the top-10 again.”

Bascue and Abdul Saboor were competitive off the start block with a start time of 4.97 seconds in both heats, which was eighth fastest of the field. Bascue threaded together the 11th best downtime of 50.04 seconds in the first heat, and the eighth fastest run of 50.00 seconds in run two. The top American team tied Germans Christoph Hafer and Lukas Frytz for 10th place with a combined time of 1:40.04.

Bascue will compete on the European Cup circuit for the final two races, which will be held in Igls, Austria and Winterberg, Germany.

“We started the season strong and it seemed like we had a lot of potential,” Bascue said. “Things didn’t go our way mid season, but it is what it is and we’ll keep working hard through these last few weeks.”

Church and Williamson posted a start time of 5.05 seconds, 16th of the field, in both heats. Church piloted the team to the finish in 50.42 and 50.23 seconds for a combined time of 1:40.65 to finish 16th.

Francesco Friedrich rebounded from yesterday’s 12th place to take gold today with Thorsten Margis. The Germans clocked a combined time of 1:39.16 for the victory. Yesterday’s winner, Brad Hall, teamed with Nick Gleeson today for a total time of 1:39.22 to claim the silver medal for Great Britain. Oskars Kibermanis and Matiss Miknis earned bronze for the host nation with a two-run total of 1:39.71.

The World Cup will resume in Winterberg, Germany next week for the seventh stop of the tour. Races will be held from January 7-9.

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

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Results

1. Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis (GER) 1:39.16 (49.46, 49.70);

2. Brad Hall and Nick Gleeson (GBR) 1:39.22 (49.52, 49.70);

3. Oskars Kibermanis and Matiss Miknis (LAT) 1:39.71 (49.83, 49.88);

T-10. Codie Bascue and Hakeem Abdul Saboor (USA) 1:40.04 (50.04, 50.00);

16. Hunter Church and Josh Williamson (USA) 1:40.65 (50.42, 50.23);

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.