Date: December 15, 2024
Contact: Lauren Howe, 978-400-3036,
USA Fifth in Team Relay, Gustafson 12th as Austria Owns the Day
OBERHOF, Germany—The United States placed fifth in the team relay competition, while Jonny Gustafson led the nation’s efforts in the men’s singles race by finishing 12th.
Team Austria wrapped up a dominant weekend at a traditional German stronghold. After winning the women’s doubles and singles events yesterday, the Austrian men swept the top four men’s singles spots. That success was followed up by a gold medal in the team relay.
Team Relay
The first relay of the season took place a week later than anticipated, following electrical problems at the venue of last week’s World Cup event in Igls, Austria. Those issues forced the cancellation of the event.
The United States kicked off their effort with 2022 Olympian Ashley Farquharson (Park City, Utah), who had the team sitting in bronze medal contention. The Junior World Championship winning doubles team of Marcus Mueller (Brookfield, Wisc.) and Ansel Haugsjaa (Framingham Mass.), competed in their first relay. The duo faltered out of curve 13, creating a time gap that would ultimately keep Team USA off the podium. 2022 Olympian Jonny Gustafson (Massena, N.Y.) was up next, followed by yesterday’s bronze medalists Chevonne Forgan (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Sophia Kirkby (Lake Placid, N.Y.). Team USA finished fifth in a time of 3 minutes, 14.828 seconds.
Team Austria won the event with a time of 3:12.865, followed by Germany in second with 3:13.281. Italy was third in 3:14.239.
Men’s Singles
In men’s singles, Gustafson finished 12th. The 2022 Olympian posted a two-run combined time of 1:26.601. An injured Tucker West was not able to pull a full start and placed 22nd. Since West sat outside the top 20 sleds following the first heat, he did not advance to take a second run. His time was 43.826. Two-time Junior World Championship medalist Matt Greiner (Park City, Utah) placed 24th in 43.923. Aidan Mueller (West Islip, N.Y.), a Junior National Team athlete who is racing with the National Team, placed 28th in 44.044.
Last week on their home track, the Austrian men’s team accomplished a rare feat. They entered four sleds in the competition and occupied the top four places on the results sheet. This week, they repeated their dominance. Only this time, it was at a track typically owned by the German home team. Jonas Mueller set a start record and was first in 1:25.321, while Nico Gleirscher was second in 1:25.556. David Gleirscher, Nico’s brother, was third in 1:25.836. Wolfgang Kindl was fourth in 1:25.877.
World Cup standings
In the overall World Cup standings after three of nine events, Nico Gleirscher sits in first place with 231 points. Jonas Mueller is second with 227 points, while Kindl is third with 205 points. Gustafson is tenth with 121 points, West 15th with 72, Greiner 25th with 52, and Aidan Mueller is 28th with 37.
Following the first team relay event of the season, Austria is leading with 100 points. In second is Germany with 85, and Italy is third with 70. Team USA is fifth with 55 points.
The team will return home for the holiday break. World Cup racing resumes January 3-5, 2025, in Sigulda, Latvia. 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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