PARK CITY, Utah — USA Luge’s Emily Sweeney and Tucker West jumped to a lead after the first of two days of Norton National Championship racing at the Utah Olympic Park this past weekend.

The race format combines the times of four runs taken over two days, mimicking the Olympic race format for singles luge.

World Cup winner West, of Lake Placid, gained an early advantage in both heats by virtue of his strong starts. He posted a two-run total time of one minute, 31.862 seconds. Olympian Jonny Gustafson of Massena sits in second place in 1:32.018. Junior National team athlete Aidan Mueller of West Islip holds third in 1:32.905, with two-time Junior World Championship medalist Matt Greiner of Park City, Utah posted a fourth-place time of 1:33.017. Logan Barnes of Clarkesville, Tennessee, also a Junior Team athlete, sits in fifth in 1:34.339. Hunter Harris of East Fairfield, Vermont was sixth in 1:33.909.

World Championship medalist Sweeney, of Lake Placid, holds a slim lead over 2022 Olympian Ashley Farquharson of Park City, Utah. Sweeney leads with 1:28.373, just .037 over Farquharson. Five-time World Cup winner Summer Britcher of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania holds the bronze medal spot in 1:28.645, in front of Emma Erickson of Park City, Utah who is in fourth with a time of 1:29.642. Junior National Team athlete Macey Schomaker of Park City, Utah is currently fifth in 1:31.329.

The Norton National Championships resume today. Races can also be viewed on the Utah Olympic Park YouTube Channel. The race will feature the conclusion of the men’s and women’s singles competition. In line with the Olympic format, the two heat men’s and women’s doubles championship races will also take place.

The nine-circuit World Cup season will kick-off in Lillehammer, Norway, Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, with the 53rd World Championships scheduled for Feb. 6 to 9, 2025, in Whistler, Canada.