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Sitka Supports the USA Luge Team | Team USA takes relay bronze

Date: January 12, 2025
Contact: Lauren Howe, 978-400-3036, 

Team USA takes relay bronze 

Farquharson sixth in women’s singles race 

 

ALTENBERG, Germany—After a difficult relay one week ago where the team did not finish, the United States bounced back to take third place on a windy day at the sliding sports venue outside of Dresden, Germany.

In the women’s singles competition, Ashley Farquharson was the top finishing American in sixth.  

Team relay 

Since the addition of women’s doubles to the team relay last season, a premium has been placed on consistency, especially on a technically difficult track like the one in Altenberg.  

Team USA was represented by Farquharson (Park City, Utah), the men’s doubles team of Marcus Mueller (Brookfield, Wisc.)-Ansel Haugsjaa (Framingham, Mass), Jonny Gustafson (Massena, N.Y.), and the women’s doubles team of Chevonne Forgan (Chelmsford, Mass.)-Sophia Kirkby (Lake Placid, N.Y.). All four United States sleds were fast and relatively clean down the track, enough to reward the squad with a bronze medal in 3 minutes, 16.149 seconds.  

The Latvia team upset the second-place German team on home ice. Their times were 3:15.715 and 3:15.914, respectively. 

Women’s singles 
The women’s race saw problems for a significant portion of the field, particularly out of the wind-exposed curve 14. The U.S. team was no exception. Farquharson showed the speed for a podium finish but hit the left and right walls between curves 14 and 15. The 2022 Olympian posted a two-run combined time of 1:46.108 and finished sixth. 

Emily Sweeney (Lake Placid, N.Y.) and Summer Britcher (Glen Rock, Pa.), both multi-time Olympians and World Cup medalists, tied for 14th place after struggling with the exit of curve 14. They posted times of 1:47.239. 

Emma Erickson (Park City, Utah) finished in 21st with a one-run time of 59.913. Only the top 20 advance to the second heat of competition. 

Madeleine Egle of Austria was the winner in 1:45.642. Anna Berreiter of Germany was second in 1:45.792, with her teammate Merle Fraebel third in 1:45.905.  

Quotes 

Ashley Farquharson: “I feel good. It was challenging. This track is always hard for me, but team relay is always fun, and I know that no matter what happens, the team’s got my back.” 

Jonny Gustafson: “For me, (the challenge) was definitely curve nine and a little bit out of curve 14 as well. Coming down to that low speed after sliding from the men’s start all week, it’s definitely a big change. But you know luckily, like Ashley said, we had the team to back us up, and they helped carry us to a medal for sure.” 

Marcus Mueller: “I’m super happy for this great team and super happy to be in this event. Definitely could have been a little bit better of a run, but super proud of all of us.” 

Ansel Haugsjaa: “(I was) really nervous before the run but able to put it together, so phew!” 

Chevonne Forgan: “It was such a fun race today. A little bit cold, but so happy to have made it on the podium. I’m so proud of all my teammates.” 

Sophia Kirkby: “Thank you so much to our sponsors Norton, Dow, Karbon, U.S. Venture, White Castle and Team Worldwide.” 

World Cup standings 

In team relay standings, the United States is tied for fifth place with Italy with 125 points. Germany is in the lead with 270 points. Austria is second with 245 points, followed by Ukraine in third with 162.  

In women’s singles, Farquharson and Sweeney are tied for seventh place, with 223 points each. Britcher sits in 11th place with 198 points and Erickson is 20th with 96. 

Egle leads the women’s World Cup standings with 359 points. Austrian Lisa Schulte is second with 355 points and Germany’s Julia Taubitz is third with 330. 

World Cup racing resumes next weekend in Winterberg, Germany, with the World Championships being held February 6-8, 2025, in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. To live stream the races and view archived competitions, please visit the FIL’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FILLuge_Channel. The entire World Cup and World Championship season can be accessed from this portal. 

For more information on the Fastest Sport on Ice®, log on to www.usaluge.org  

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