LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Sochi Olympians Summer Britcher and Tucker West grabbed the halfway lead Friday on the opening day of the USA Luge Norton National Championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg.
On a humid morning with snow flurries and temperatures in the mid-30s, Britcher recorded the two fastest heats – 44.476 and 44.553 seconds – for a combined 1 minute, 29.029 seconds.
“The ice conditions were pretty decent today,” stated Britcher. “Last week during training, the track crew had to fight some pretty terrible weather conditions. But today everything came together. The ice is looking really nice. It’s great that it came together on race day.”
The Glen Rock, Pa. athlete tied for the most World Cup wins last year with three and held the tour leader’s bib at the holiday break. Britcher medaled in five consecutive World Cup events last December and finished fifth in the overall standings.
“I feel pretty good about the runs I had (today),” said Britcher. “I had some minor mistakes in both runs, but in a way, this is still race training for the World Cup later in the season and so I feel pretty good.”
She will return Saturday morning for the final two heats, seeking her first Norton National Championship after collecting the silver medal in 2015.
West, meanwhile, moved into first place in similar fashion. The Ridgefield, Conn. racer, who set the track record in his Lake Placid World Cup victory here nearly two years ago, threw down run times of 51.828 and 52.004, totaling 1:43.832 on the mile-long, 19-curve track.
“Track conditions were good,” said the Union College student in search of his second U.S. crown.
“We were down in 51s (51 seconds) in the first run which is World Cup quality. So the track crew did a great job out here.
“My first run was really good. The second run wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be. I’m still making adjustments. The World Cup season is still five weeks away. So every run I get to take is one step closer to being ready for the World Cup.”
Junior National Team member Jonny Gustafson, of Massena, N.Y., defending Norton Junior National Champion, used his typical strong start en route to a second place aggregate time of 1:44.370. He was followed by Taylor Morris, of South Jordan, Utah, third in 1:44.598.
Riley Stohr, of Whitehall, Mich., is fourth, with John Fennell, of Rouses Point, N.Y., fifth. Fennell, a dual citizen, is trying to make the USA Luge World Cup roster after leaving the Canadian program last spring.
There are two notable absences from the men’s field. Vancouver and Sochi Olympian Chris Mazdzer, of Saranac Lake, N.Y., is concluding a week on the 2018 Olympic track in PyeongChang. Mazdzer is among the sliders enlisted to pre-homologate the new course.
Also, Aidan Kelly, of West Islip, N.Y., is healing a herniated disc and will not compete internationally this season. Once cleared to resume training, Kelly, a 2014 Olympian, will return to the ice in Lake Placid.
Britcher is trailed by defending national champion Emily Sweeney, of Suffield, Conn. Still recovering from wrist surgery and subsequent rehabilitation, Sweeney said she was pulling 75 percent from the start handles and not paddling down the start ramp. Her driving skills brought her to second place at the mid-point in 1:29.157.
Sochi Olympic bronze medalist and 2009 World Champion Erin Hamlin, of Remsen, N.Y., is third after posting 1:29.546.
Raychel Germaine, of Roswell, Ga., is fourth. She is followed by 2015 Norton Junior National Champion Brittney Arndt, of Park City, Utah, in fifth place, and fellow junior Grace Weinberg, of Pittsfield, Vt., sixth.
The event is incorporating the Olympic format with four singles heats split over two days.
The final two legs of the singles races will double as the first team seeding races of the fall qualification period.
Also, Saturday’s doubles nationals race will similarly count as a team seeding event.
Competition at the Olympic Sports Complex is set to resume at 8 AM, with live coverage on www.usaluge.org.
