Chen Wins First IBSF Gold Medal in Lake Placid

From Lake Placid, USA

Jan. 6, 2020 – Wenhao Chen won his first career IBSF gold medal in the sixth North American Cup men’s skeleton race of the 2019/2020 season.

Chen was the second quickest off the top (only behind teammate Zheng Yin), but was otherwise the quickest at every split on his way to a .37 over American Chris Strup.

The race was a one-heat race.

The gold for Chen was his first medal in IBSF competition, having finished fourth three times across European and Intercontinental Cup races.

Strup finished with a silver medal, his first in 15 IBSF North American Cup starts. Ander MIrambell of Spain finished third.

American Daniel Barefoot finished fourth, just .06 out of the medals, while Hayisaer Asaierhazi finished firth and Zilong Zhu sixth.

American Kyler Sultemeier tied a career-best with a 12th place finish, while Hunter Williams also had a career-best finish with a 17th place run.

James Airey led the way for Canada with a ninth place finish, the only Canadian in the top ten. Troy Wilson finished 14th, while Jordan Rwiyamilira and Patrick Farias finished 18th and 19th, respectively.

Results:

Pos	Name	Nation	Bib	Start	Finish
1	Wenhao Chen	CHN	7	4.82	53.52
2	Chris Strup	USA	8	4.88	53.89
3	Ander Mirambell	ESP	5	5.25	54.15
4	Daniel Barefoot	USA	13	5.06	54.21
5	Hayisaer Asaierhazi	CHN	11	4.89	54.24
6	Zilong Zhu	CHN	2	4.92	54.36
7	Joel Seligstein	ISR	1	5.29	54.85
8	Zheng Yin	CHN	12	4.76	54.93
9	James Airey	CAN	15	5.06	55.08
10	Dean Timmings	AUS	10	5.16	55.19
11	Akwasi Frimpong	GHA	6	5.26	55.28
12	Kyler Sultemeier	USA	17	5.19	55.32
13	Peter Makrides	AUS	4	5.14	55.72
14	Troy Wilson	CAN	14	5.21	55.74
15	Jeff Bauer	LUX	16	5.35	55.84
16	Rin Kinoshita	JPN	9	4.98	55.89
17	Hunter Williams	USA	3	5.23	55.95
18	Jordan Rwiyamilira	CAN	18	5.04	56.18
19	Patrick Farias	CAN	21	5.59	57.29
20	Jorge Caracassis	ARG	20	5.04	57.73
21	Jonathan Yaw	AUS	22	5.40	58.40
22	Joe Della Santina	NZL	19	6.06	58.58