U.S. National Bobsled Push Champions named
(USBSF Press Release)
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (Sept. 7, 2011)–Three veterans and one rookie claimed a 2011 U.S. National Bobsled Push Championship title in Lake Placid, NY today. Steve Langton (Melrose, Mass.) and Katie Eberling (Palos Hills, Ill.) were the title winners of the brakeman categories, while Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) and Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Ga.) won their respective divisions as pilots.
“We proved that we’re a strong team today,” Langton said. “All of our athletes are the strongest they’ve been at this point, and we’re still two years out from the next Olympics.”
Langton won his third national title today by 0.11 seconds. The reigning world push champion clocked a time of 4.61 seconds from the brakeman position and 4.66 seconds from the side for a total time of 9.27 seconds.
“It definitely feels good to start the season with a win,” Langton said. “I worked really hard this summer and this was the first opportunity to see where I stacked up against the best in the country.”
Langton led a field of 27 men comprised of veterans and rookies. Langton began the sport four years ago to the day, and has developed into a role model for new athletes emerging in the sport.
“It’s weird to know that I’m now one of the veterans that the younger guys are looking up to,” Langton said. “Four years went by fast, but this is the best rookie class I’ve seen since I started. It’s great seeing the sport grow and being a part of that.”
Langton’s USA I teammate Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.) pushed his way into second place with a combined time of 9.38 seconds after pushing 4.66 from the brakes and 4.72 from the side. The fourth member of the USA I, Justin Olsen, posted a respectable sixth place just one week after returning from Army basic training.
“Our sled is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with this year,” Langton said. “World championships are back in Lake Placid this February, and our goal is to win double gold. Push championships is the first time to see where everyone is at physically, and I think our goal is doable as long as we do what we’re capable of doing.”
Chuck Berkeley (Walnut Creek, Calif.) returned to competition for the first time today since competing in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to finish third with a total of 9.40 seconds.
Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) has already made a statement about his status as driver of USA I after claiming the men’s bobsled pilot title by 0.18 seconds. Holcomb pushed identical start times of 4.69 seconds for a combined total of 9.38 seconds.
“It’s nice to be training hard again,” Holcomb said. “I’ve been living here this summer at the Olympic Training Center getting back into the swing of things. It definitely feels good to start the year off with a push title.”
Holcomb ended a 50-year U.S. streak without a four-man world championship gold in 2009 and claimed the first four-man bobsled Olympic gold medal for the country in 62 years at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The veteran is seeking his second world title this February.
“Our team is looking good,” Holcomb said. “We’re motivated and ready to bring back the world title to the U.S. this year. We’re ready.”
Before the track opens in Lake Placid on Oct. 10th, Holcomb has one more title he’d like to add to his resume- the luge start championship.
“Now that I’ve finished this I need to focus on that luge start title,” Holcomb said.
Holcomb won the USA Luge Open Start Championships last month to earn a berth into the national competition next month, where he’ll go head-to-head with the nation’s best luge athletes. While Holcomb’s content driving bobsleds, he enjoys the friendly competition.
Cory Butner (Yucaipa, Calif.) and Jay Noller (Salt Lake City, Utah) rounded out the top three standings in the men’s pilot division today. Butner claimed silver with a combined time of 9.56 seconds after clocking 4.80 and 4.76, while Noller posted total time of 9.82 seconds for third place.
Rookie athlete Katie Eberling (Palos Hills, Ill.) was the surprise winner in the women’s bobsled push championships. Eberling, 23, led a field of 15 women by 0.24 seconds to claim her first-ever title of what she hopes will be many.
“I decided to come here to give it a shot and to see how it felt,” Eberling said. “I still have a lot to learn, but I’m going to keep pursuing it and hope to gain a lot over this year.”
Amped up after posting the fastest start time in the first heat, 5.22, Eberling bettered her time and clocked a 5.19 in the final run to claim the title with a total of 10.41 seconds.
“I don’t know many people that are lucky enough to have the opportunity to be in this environment, so I feel fortunate and excited,” Eberling said. “Working and training with elite athletes is something you dream about when you’re little, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I’m in a transition phase now after graduating, so this was good timing.”
Olympic medalist Elana Meyers contacted Eberling over a year ago when she was a Western Michigan Bronco as an outside hitter on the volleyball team. Eberling was named to the ESPN Magazine Academic All-District IV third team and Academic All-MAC three years in a row, which piqued Meyers’ interest in recruiting her to the team. Eberling took a few trips in a sled last February and attended a weeklong push camp after graduating in April.
“I can’t say I was in love with it after the first trip down the hill, but I was excited about it,” Eberling said. “It’s a feeling I’d never had before, and I was curious about it. I wanted more of it and I wanted to see what I could do.”
Coaches and pilots will take Eberling’s result into consideration when naming teams for selection races in October.
Seasoned veteran Emily Azevedo (Chico, Calif.) clocked a total time of 10.65 seconds to finish second after pushing two heats of 5.32 and 5.33, and second-year athlete Kristi Koplin (Cedar City, Utah) finished third with a two-push total of 10.66 seconds.
Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Ga.) claimed her fourth consecutive bobsled push championship title today after winning the women’s pilot division by 0.29 seconds.
“That felt pretty good,” Meyers said. “I’m excited about the great start to the season. I still have some things to work on, and I plan on getting faster.”
Meyers moved into the driver’s seat after winning the 2010 Olympic bonze medal as a brakeman for pilot Erin Pac. Meyers was touted as one of the fastest push athletes in the world, and she’s made a smooth transition to becoming one of the fastest pilots in the nation.
“I’m still making improvements each year,” Meyers said. “One of my strengths as a brakeman was coming off the block, and it’s a different technique pushing as a driver. I’m still making gains and plan on getting even faster.”
Meyers was able to lead the field despite an injured wrist sustained after she fell performing hurdle jumps in training. She is getting an MRI this afternoon, but is expected to fully recover before team selection races in October.
“What can I say, I’m sometimes not the most coordinated person,” Meyers said.
Jazmine Fenlator (Wayne, N.J.) finished second with a total of 10.56 after posting times of 5.31 and 5.25, and Bree Schaaf (Bremerton, Wash.) claimed bronze after clocking a cumulative push time of 10.79 seconds.
The next time athletes will unite will be at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid on October 10th for opening day of the combined track.
