(USA Bobsled & Skeleton Press Release)
From Calgary, CAN – (Sept. 15, 2016) – After two close races, Dakarai Kongela (Suquamish, Wash.) and Megan Henry (Roxbury, Conn.) pulled out wins in the men’s and women’s USA Skeleton National Push Championships, respectively. In the three-heat competition at the indoor Ice House, each athlete’s two best times were counted toward the final result.
“We had a great turnout,” Tuffy Latour, head skeleton coach, said. “I’m excited about where the team is as we head into the season. With less than 17 months until the 2018 Olympic Games, everyone is stepping up their game.”
In his first ever skeleton push competition, former bobsledder Kongela posted times of 4.77 and 4.69 seconds to edge Austin Florian (Southington, Conn.), with whom he was tied for the lead after the first heat. Kongela edged Florian by 0.09 seconds with a combined push time of 9.46 seconds. Florian finished in second with times of 4.77 and 4.78 for a total of 9.55 seconds, while last season’s Rookie of the Year Nathan Crumpton (Park City, Utah) was third in 9.57 seconds with times of 4.78 and 4.79.
On the women’s side, Henry, competing in her first push championships since 2013 after injuries sidelined her, took the top spot with times of 5.07 and 5.08 for a total of 10.15 seconds. The win is an improvement on Henry’s fourth-place finish in 2013, which followed a first-place victory in 2011.
“It’s always an adjustment for everyone pushing on ice for the first time at the beginning of the season,” Henry said. “After knocking the rust off, I was feeling good heading into this competition and really enjoy getting back into a competitive mindset with the whole team. This is a big confidence boost that I really am grateful for leading into the season and to sustain momentum in last few weeks of the off season before we really get on ice.”
Kristen Hurley (Columbia, Conn.) recorded 5.12 and 5.14 second pushes for a second place finish behind Henry with a combined time of 10.26. Last season Hurley was a member of the women’s bobsled national team, but has also successfully competed in skeleton, pushing to a victory in last year’s USA Skeleton National Push Championships. Veronica Day (Vienna, Va.) had a strong showing as well, twice recording 5.21-second pushes for a two-run total of 10.42 seconds.
While the push championships do not have an effect on skeleton national team selection, Latour said the extra ice time is beneficial for the athletes as they prepare for national team trials next month. Skeleton team selection races will take place Oct. 23-24 in Lake Placid, N.Y. and Nov. 1-2 in Park City, Utah, and the team will be announced on Nov. 3.
Results:
| Women’s Skeleton | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Push 1 | Push 2 | Total |
| 1 | Megan Henry | 5.07 | 5.08 | 10.15 |
| 2 | Kristen Hurley | 5.12 | 5.14 | 10.26 |
| 3 | Veronica Day | 5.21 | 5.21 | 10.42 |
| 4 | Kelly Curtis | 5.25 | 5.22 | 10.47 |
| 5 | Megan Dovell | 5.24 | 5.24 | 10.48 |
| 6 | Kellie Delka | 5.24 | 5.25 | 10.49 |
| 7 | Gracie Clapp-Taylor | 5.32 | 5.35 | 10.67 |
| 8 | Lesliie Stratton | 5.36 | 5.37 | 10.73 |
| 9 | Samantha Culiver | 5.44 | 5.48 | 10.92 |
| 10 | Savannah Graybill | 5.46 | 5.47 | 10.93 |
| Men’s Skeleton | ||||
| Pos. | Name | Push 1 | Push 2 | Total |
| 1 | Dak Kongela | 4.77 | 4.69 | 9.46 |
| 2 | Austin Florian | 4.77 | 4.78 | 9.55 |
| 3 | Nathan Crumpton | 4.78 | 4.79 | 9.57 |
| 4 | Alex Ivanov | 4.83 | 4.87 | 9.70 |
| 5 | Matt Antoine | 4.88 | 4.89 | 9.77 |
| 5 | Andrew Blaser | 4.88 | 4.89 | 9.77 |
| 7 | Jake Miter | 4.89 | 4.90 | 9.79 |
| 8 | Jimmy Nguyen | 4.93 | 4.92 | 9.85 |
| 9 | Mike Brandt | 4.91 | 4.95 | 9.86 |
| 10 | Kyle Tress | 4.92 | 4.97 | 9.89 |
| 11 | John Ivy | 5.02 | 5.02 | 10.04 |
| 12 | Robert Germaine | 5.02 | 5.05 | 10.07 |
| 13 | Mike Terry | 5.05 | 5.03 | 10.08 |
| 14 | Allen Blackwell | 5.03 | 5.07 | 10.10 |
| 15 | Max Delance | 5.04 | 5.14 | 10.18 |
