2016/2017 FIL World Cup – Women’s Luge – Race 2

From Lake Placid, USA

In the 2015 women’s luge race in Lake Placid, the United States swept the podium and placed four women in the top seven. Coming into the 2016 event, there were lofty expectations.

German Tatjana Hüfner looked to avenge the American sweep a year ago. Hüfner came into the second run with the lead over Americans Summer Britcher and Erin Hamlin, and after both Britcher and Hamlin failed to find the speed they needed to win, Hüfner took control to win a gold.

Neither Britcher nor Hamlin could land on the podium, as Canadians Kimberley McRae and Alex Gough put down two of the three fastest times of the race to move into silver and bronze position, giving Canada two of the three podium positions.

Britcher would settle for fourth, ahead of Natalie Geiseberger of Germany and American Emily Sweeney, who rounded out the top six. Hamlin finished seventh, three spots ahead of teammate Raychel Germaine, who helped put all four American sleds in the top ten.

Italian Sandra Robatscher was disqualified for overheated runners, and was one of five sliders who finished the race without a time. Latvian Ulla Zirne and Austrian Miriam Kastlunger both crashed in their second run, while Ukrainian Olena Stetskiv and Russian Ekaterina Katnikova crashed in their first.

Results: