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LP hosts skeleton selection races, bobsled chamionships

Team USA’s driver Geoffrey Gadbois pulls down the push bar while crew members Carsten Vissering, Quentin Willey and Darius Joseph continue to push at the start of their second run Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

LAKE PLACID — Lake Placid’s Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg was the host of the 2023 Skeleton Selection Races and the USA Bobsled and Skeleton National Championships this past weekend.

Monobob and two-man bobsled took place on March 18 while two-woman and four-man took place on March 19.

Four total heats — two per day — took place for Skeleton Selection Races, the total of all four runs counting towards the results for the USABS National Championships and the two runs daily counting towards the selection process.

In two-woman bobsled, Nicole Vogt placed first alongside Emily Renna with a combined two-run time of 1 minute, 56 seconds. Following the race, Vogt announced her retirement from the sport.

“I have decided to retire, so today was my last race,” Vogt said in a statement. “Wrapping up my career on home ice as National Champions with Emily was really special. It’s been an honor to represent Team USA and USABS for the past 12 years. Thank you to everyone that’s been part of my bobsled journey. I’m excited for the next season of life with time and space for something new.”

Riley Compton and Macy Tarlton took second place with a time of 1:56.97, while Lauren Brzozowski and Mia Lobel placed third with a time of 157.60. 2022 Olympian Sylvia Hoffman slid into the driver’s seat alongside brakeman Eboni Birch, earning her a fourth-place finish in 1:57.61.

Elana Meyers Taylor took her first bobsled runs since competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and giving birth to her second child. She slid with Amanda Fay, coming in fifth place with a time of 1:57.66.

Kaysha Love, who is currently transitioning from the brakeman’s seat to the pilot’s position, came in sixth — alongside teammate Rylie Matthews — with a time of 2:05.12.

In monobob, Brzozowski took first place with a two-run time of 2.03.70. Compton placed second with a time of 2:03.72, while Vogt (2:03.73) and Hoffman (2:05.45) placed third and fourth, respectively.

Geoff Gadbois and Paul Rabic placed first in two-man bobsled with a 2-run time of 1:54.39. Kris Horn and Brandon Jetter finished in second in 1:55.75, while Zach Snyder and Charles Mangold were third in 1:57.47.

In four-man bobsled, Frankie Del Duca, Elliot Earkuson, Darius Joseph and Gabe Watson placed first with a two-run time of 1:54.29. Snyder, Dylan Reda, Tyler Madl and Eli Rollins placed second in 2:04.42.

In women’s skeleton, Sara Roderick took first place with a four-run total time of 3.44.40. Mystique Ro placed second in 3.44.64, and Michelle Toukan was third in 3.50.78. Logan Wudi (3.58.20) and Annika Knizek (4.02.29) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

“So excited and grateful to be back racing. My team is so fun to be around and it is great to be with them in full health,” Roderick said. “For sure can bring some more consistency next season but overall happy. Big shout out to Caleb for all his help this season. Stoked to have had some big pushes. Sending speedy recovery and good health to my teammates not here to join and ready to have a strong off-season.”

On the men’s side, Austin Florian placed first with a combined time of 3.38.47. 2022 Olympian Andrew Blaser placed second with a time of 3.38.77, Dan Barefoot (3.39.94) was third, Hunter Williams (3.42.66) was fourth and Bradley Nicol (3.43.57) placed fifth.

“I’m feeling very good about today. Finished up the season on a high note by winning trials and national championships,” Florian said. “It’s been an awesome season and I’m very happy with my results. I am very ready to take some time off and recharge.”

In Para Sport news, the USABS Para National Championships also took place this weekend. In the Seated Class division of Para Bobsled, Bob Balk took first with a time of 2:17.22.

Will Castillo finished in second place with his 2-run time of 2:17.38 and David Christopher was third in 2:19.62.

In the Push Class division, Gary Welland placed first with a time of 2:04.62 and DJ Skelton was second in 2:07.44.

In Para Skeleton, Mike Villagrim placed first with a time of 1:58.64, while Chris Tarte was second in 2:02.46 and Lee Kuxhaus was third in 2:09.62.

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