de Bruin Edges Humphries in NAC Women’s Bobsled Opener

From Lake Placid, USA

Nov. 19, 2019 – Christine de Bruin and Kaillie Humphries took to the ice in Lake Placid for the first time representing different nations, with de Bruin getting the better of the three-time Olympic medalist by just under two tenths of a second.

With Kristen Bujnowski on the brakes in the first heat, de Bruin tied Humphries for the fast push of the event but out-drove Humphries in the first heat to open up a .32 advantage over her former teammate. Humphries rallied back with both the quickest push and the fastest run of the second heat to close the gap, but de Bruin’s first run was enough to hold off Humphries.

The win was the first women’s bobsled win for de Bruin since December of 2018 in an European Cup event in Altenberg. In that time she also scored a gold medal in a monobob event in Königssee.

Humphries, making her first start since the 2018 Olympic Games, showed her traditional speed at the top. Humphries, joined with Olympic silver medalist Lauren Gibbs, had the fast push in both heats, and was the quickest at every split in the second heat on her way to silver.

Martina Fontanive was the only other pilot within a second of de Bruin, finishing with a bronze medal. The third place finish tied a career-best for Fontanive, who has European Cup bronze medals in St. Moritz and Sigulda.

Americans Brittany Reinbolt and Kristi Koplin finished fourth and fifth, with Austrian Kati Beierl rounding out the top six.

Shelby Williamson finished 11th in the final American effort, while Canadians Kori Hol and Melissa Lotholz finished eighth and ninth, respectively.

The North American Cup events double as the team trials for the United States bobsled team. The skeleton teams have already been announced.

Results: