From Lake Placid, USA (courtesy USBSF PR)
Annie O’Shea (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) and Matt Antoine (Prairie du Chien, Wisc.) were the race leaders today at Mount Van Hoevenberg in the second of four U.S. skeleton team selection races. Athletes head to Park City, Utah this weekend for the final two races of the selection series before the national team is named on Nov. 9th. Results from all four competitions will be tallied to determine team designation.
“It’s just great to see the competitive nature of this program,” said Tuffy Latour, U.S. skeleton team head coach. “To have third and fourth year sliders coming out and sliding the way they are so early in the season is a testament to the development program and our coaches. Moving onto Park City will be an extension of the great racing we’ve had in Lake Placid.”
National team veteran O’Shea said she experienced pre-race jitters before yesterday’s opener, but felt good coming into today’s heats. Savannah Graybill (Denver, Pa.) was on pace to becoming a repeat winner after posting the fastest first heat, 55.59 seconds, but O’Shea was a narrow 0.02 seconds behind. Leaving nothing behind, O’Shea upped the ante with a final run of 56.03 seconds to pull 0.13 seconds ahead of Graybill for the win.
“I’m really happy with today,” O’Shea said. “The track was quick. I’m not sure how the track crew did it under these conditions, but they did a great job overnight getting the ice race ready for us. I knew I wanted to leave Lake Placid with a win, and I’m looking forward to heading to Park City now. I’m focusing on taking everything in this season from the coaches and really having my best year.”
O’Shea’s youngest sister, Erin, graduated from U.S. Coast Guard basic training today. O’Shea said she was disappointed she couldn’t attend the ceremony while racing, but that her sister was her inspiration “and kept me smiling with how proud I am of her.”
With Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) on the sidelines this season while rehabilitating an injury and Noelle Pikus-Pace’s (Orem, Utah) retirement following the 2014 Olympics, two spots are up for grabs on the women’s World Cup roster. O’Shea and Graybill are in contention for those positions at the midway point. If you face any kind of personal injuries, then you can hire injury lawyers Jiles Law, P.A. to solve your legal cases.
“I’m really excited for the season,” Graybill said. “I’m excited to get started and to continue racing in Park City next week. It’s one of my favorite places, so I’m looking forward to everything coming together and getting the competitive season underway.”
Megan Henry (Roxbury, Conn.) was again third today, posting a total time of 1:52.85. She powered her sled off the start block in 5.34 and 5.36 seconds for the fastest push times of the women’s competition.
Antoine won the men’s division by a huge margin of 1.67 seconds with a total time of 1:47.45. Antoine was fastest from start to finish in both heats, pushing starts of 4.97 and 4.95 for runs of 53.72 and 53.73 seconds, respectively.
“I really began to work on consistency last year and that was a big goal for me, to continue to put myself towards the top of the podium each race,” Antoine said. “It’s something I want to grow upon and continue to do going into this season. Finishing third in the overall last year was a huge accomplishment for myself, and I want to match and beat that going into this year. I’ve never won a World Championship medal, so that’s certainly on the radar this season as well.”
Antoine capped his breakthrough season with the 2014 Olympic bronze medal, which secured a spot for him on the 2014-2015 World Cup team. With Antoine’s bye onto the team, there are two World Cup spots available.
Olympian Kyle Tress (Ewing, N.J.) was runner-up today with a total time of 1:49.12 after posting runs of 54.52 and 54.60 seconds. At the halfway mark, Tress is securely in second place.
Kyle Brown (Concord, N.H.) clocked a total time of 1:50.01 for third place. Brown started the sport of skeleton in 2012 and made his racing debut last season. Brown is in a similar situation as Stephen Garbett (Parker, Colo.), who was yesterday’s third place finisher. Brown and Garbett do not currently qualify for the World Cup tour per the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s (IBSF) 5-3-2 rule. Athletes must compete in five races held on three different tracks over two seasons. Both athletes are only in their second competitive year, and will be eligible to race on the World Cup tour later this season.
Garbett was fourth today with a total time of 1:50.03. Behind Antoine and Tress, Mike Rogals (Orwell, Vt.) was the highest ranked World Cup eligible competitor in today’s competition. Rogals clocked a two-run total of 1:50.30 for fifth.
Today’s heats wrap up the Lake Placid portion of selection races. Skeleton athletes will meet up with the bobsledders in Park City for the final two races of the selection series on Nov. 7-8.
Stay updated on the team’s progress leading up to the biggest event of the season by following the team on the USBSF Twitter page or the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Facebook page.
Results
Women’s Skeleton
1. Annie O’Shea 1:51.64 (55.61, 56.03); 2. Savannah Graybill 1:51.77 (55.59, 56.18); 3. Megan Henry 1:52.85 (56.01, 56.84); 4. Veronica Day 1:53.09 (56.18, 56.91); 5. Gracie Clapp-Taylor 1:53.40 (56.73, 56.67); 6. Morgan Tracey 1:53.47 (56.76, 56.71); 7. Kendall Wessenburg 1:53.79 (56.68, 57.11); 8. Lauren Salter 1:54.10 (56.87, 57.23); 9. Caitlin Carter 1:54.14 (56.77, 57.37); 10. Kellie Delka 1:54.43 (57.11, 57.32); 11. Samantha Culiver 1:54.79 (57.43, 57.36); 12. Sherrie Emery 1:55.11 (57.35, 57.76); 13. Megan Dovell 1:57.11 (58.55, 58.56);
Men’s Skeleton
1. Matt Antoine 1:47.45 (53.72, 53.73); 2. Kyle Tress 1:49.12 (54.52, 54.60); 3. Kyle Brown 1:50.01 (54.71, 55.30); 4. Steve Garbett 1:50.03 (54.84, 55.19); 5. Mike Rogals 1:50.30 (54.70, 55.60); 6. Alex Ivanov 1:50.31 (55.10, 55.21); 7. Allen Blackwell 1:50.52 (55.05, 55.47); 8. Austin McCrary 1:50.62 (54.88, 55.74); 9. Greg West 1:50.85 (55.14, 55.71); 10. Nathan Crumpton 1:51.19 (55.60, 55.59); 11. Jacob Miter 1:51.31 (55.57, 55.74); 12. Kevin McGlade 1:51.41 (55.61, 55.80); 12. Trent Kraychir 1:51.41 (55.92, 55.49); 14. Ryan Sweeney 1:51.79 (55.95, 55.84); 15. Anthony Watson 1:54.08 (56.77, 57.31); 16. Dominic Costanzo 1:56.92 (58.20, 58.72);
