Berreiter Wins First of the Season, Taubitz Clinches Title in Sigulda

From Sigulda, LAT

(February 24, 2024) – Germany’s Anna Berreiter rallied from seventh in the first heat to win her first gold of the 2023/2024 FIL World Cup season in Sigulda.

Latvia’s Sigita Berzina led after the first heat, with the United States’ Ashley Farquharson and Latvia’s Kendija Aparjode in third. But as the tour has experienced over the last few weeks in warmer temperatures, the advantage went to those with mid-field starts in the second heat.

Berreiter took the lead from Zane Kaluma, who had taken the lead earlier in the heat and held it for six more runs until Berreiter took over. The German then held off Elina Vitola, sliding on her home track, by .018 to maintain the lead. After Lisa Schulte put down a clean and consistent run, World Cup point leader Julia Taubitz slid to third place with a run that basically matched her first run.

The final three sliders couldn’t outdo any of the women from the top three. Aparjode, third after the first heat, fell behind Kaluma and into what woudl eventually be seventh. Farquharson did the best of the three as she fell in just behind Taubitz.

The last slider down was Berzina, who could only muster the 14th quickest run of the second heat as she fell to eighth, giving Berreiter the gold.

Berreiter’s gold was her first on the year after winning two silvers and two bronzes earlier in the year. Vitola’s silver was her second on the year.

For Taubitz, her bronze medal coupled with a 14th place finish by Madeleine Egle, gave her a lead of more than 200 points in the World Cup points battle and clinched her overall title two races early.

Farquharson’s fourth place finish was her third of the season, while world champion Lisa Schulte took fifth. Kaluma rounded out the top six.

Behind Farquharson, Americans Emily Sweeney and Summer Britcher had two similar races, with one clean run and one less-than-clean effort. Sweeney finished 12th, while Britcher finished 13th.

With two races to go for the women, Julia Taubitz has wrapped up the World Cup title. Behind her, though, Anna Berreiter and Madeleine Egle battle for second overall and are tied. Lisa Schulte and Ashley Farquharson round out the top five.

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