LAKE PLACID — The 2019 USA Bobsled Push Championships will kick off the competitive season on the wheeled push track in Lake Placid on Thursday. Competing in push championships is required for returning bobsled athletes who are vying for a spot on the 2019-2020 USA Bobsled National Team.

“We’re excited to get back into a competitive environment,” said USA Bobsled Head Coach Mike Kohn. “It’s a great opportunity for the veterans to show their fitness going into the season and for the rookies to experience their first push competition.”

The push athlete individual competition will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, followed by the driver individual competition at 11 a.m. Friday’s action will include the women’t combo push competition at 10 a.m. and the men’s combo push competition at 11 a.m.

Twenty-five athletes are scheduled to compete, including Canadian Kaillie Humphries, who is entered into a guest class. The two-time Olympic champion is seeking release from Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and hopes to compete for USA Bobsled this season.

The 2019 push champions will be named following Thursday’s individual competitions, and athletes will compete in a series of combination pushes on Friday.

  USA Bobsled athletes are expected to start on ice training in Park City, Utah on Oct. 28 with team selection races on Nov. 2 and 8.