Date: December 7, 2024
Contact: Lauren Howe, 978-400-3036,
Sweeney Places Fourth in Igls World Cup
IGLS, Austria—Team USA’s Emily Sweeney just missed a podium position taking fourth place in the singles race, while Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby placed fifth in women’s doubles. The men’s doubles effort was led by youngsters Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa, who placed seventh.
For the first time since the construction of the track in advance of the1976 Olympic Winter Games, the women’s singles and doubles competition began from a new starting point. The change, which is the result of a major two-year renovation at the facility, moved the starting point from curve five to the exit of curve three. This resulted in added speed and unfamiliarity for the women race.
Women’s Singles
Sweeney (Lake Placid, N.Y.) missed yesterday’s final training session while battling a cold. Today, she showed no signs of weakness after posting the second fastest and fastest respective start times. The two-time Olympian and 2019 World Championship bronze medalist clocked in a time of one minute 32.966 seconds to secure fourth.
“Fourth. You know, it’s not where you want to be, but I’m proud I had two decent runs,” said Sweeney. “I was sick this week, so to come out with a solid performance is something I’m really proud of. And watch out next week!”
Five-time World Cup winner Summer Britcher (Glen Rock, Pa.) placed seventh in 1:33.287. Emma Erickson (Park City, Utah), competing in her first full season on the team, placed 16th in 1:33.865. 2022 Olympian Ashley Farquharson (Park City, Utah), who placed fourth here last year, had problems with the exit of curve nine on both heats and finished 20th in 1:34.165.
Madeleine Egle of Austria was the gold medalist in 1:32.484. Germany’s Julia Taubitz won the silver in 1:32.724. Egle’s teammate Lisa Schulte was the bronze medal winner in 1:32.853.
Women’s Doubles
Problems on the first run out of curve nine cost Forgan (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Kirkby (Lake Placid, N.Y.) a spot on the podium. Last week’s race winners crossed the line in 1:34.342, placing fifth.
Austrians Selina Egle and Lara Kipp won the race in 1:33.499. Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal of Germany were second in 1:33.850, while Latvians Anda Upite and Zane Kaluma were third in 1:34.109
Men’s Doubles
Marcus Mueller (Brookfield, Wisc.) and Ansel Haugsjaa (Framingham, Mass.) placed seventh in 1:33.050. The reigning Junior World Champions have thus far impressed in their first full season on the World Cup tour. At ages 19 and 20, respectively, they are the youngest team on the circuit. 2022 Olympians Zack DiGregorio (Medway, Mass.) and Sean Hollander (Lake Placid, N.Y.) placed tenth in 1:33.446. The duo of Dana Kellogg (Chesterfield, Mass.) and Frank Ike (Lititz, Pa.) sat in seventh place after the first heat, but had to intentionally roll the sled after an injury for Kellogg. He held his left shoulder in pain immediately after leaving the start handles. They did not finish the race.
The Latvian duo of Martins Bots and Roberts Plume took gold in 1:32.393, ahead of Germans Toni Eggert and Florian Mueller in 1:32.572. Austrians Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl were third in 1:32.682.
World Cup standings
In women’s singles, Taubitz holds the World Cup points lead with 185. Egle is second and holds a one-point lead over third place Sweeney, with 146 and 145 respectively. Britcher holds sixth place with 96 points, Farquharson is 13th with 63 and Erickson sits in 24th with 36.
Degenhardt/Rosenthal hold the lead in women’s doubles with 170 points after two of nine events. Forgan/Kirkby are second with 155, five points more than Egle/Kipp in third.
Eggert/Mueller and Bots/Plume are tied for first place with 185 points. Steu/Kindl are third with 140 points. DiGregorio/Hollander are ninth with 72 points, Mueller/Haugsjaa are 11th with 69 points, and Kellogg/Ike 16th with 58 points.
Racing resumes tomorrow from Igls with the men’s singles competition and team relay. All races can be seen live at https://www.youtube.com/@FILLuge_Channel.
For more information on the Fastest Sport on Ice®, log on to www.usaluge.org
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