Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Director
(518) 354-2250, abird@usbsf.com
Holcomb and Fogt clock record-breaking start, win final two-man bobsled selection race
PARK CITY, Utah (Oct. 20, 2013)- Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) teamed with national push champion Chris Fogt (Alpine, Utah) for a record-breaking start time to secure their win in the final men’s two-man bobsled selection race tonight.
“I’m really excited, this was a great race,” Holcomb said. “Fogt stepped up today and showed that he earned his spot on this team. I’m really impressed, especially since my guys are still in training mode.”
Holcomb and Fogt pushed 0.02 seconds faster in the first heat than the two-year start record set by Canadians Justin Kripps and Jesse Lumsden on Nov. 9, 2011 in a North American Cup race. Holcomb and Fogt’s push record is unofficial based on International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation rules since it was not set during an international race, but the duo is eager to repeat their performance during the world cup season.
“I was so nervous before this race, I just didn’t want to screw up,” Fogt said. “I’ve looked up to the guys on USA-1 since I started competing in this sport and was just named to their team two months ago. I was anxious to get going, anxious to make a statement in the first race. I was definitely more nervous for this race than I was my rookie year.”
While Holcomb and Fogt have practiced together on the push track, they’ve only trained together in a two-man sled down the track five times before today’s race.
“It just goes to show how hard Holcomb has worked this offseason as well,” Fogt said. “It feels good to get the first race out of the way. I’ll spend the next few hours enjoying this win before I start thinking about the four-man races.”
Although Holcomb earned a bye onto the national team, he is racing in trials to prepare himself mentally for the upcoming international season. The 2012 World Champion piloted his BMW sled to the finish in 48.38 and 48.82 seconds to lead the field by 0.35 seconds (1:37.20).
“I know I need to step up my game because the other drivers are stepping up theirs,” Holcomb said. “This is shaping up to be a solid team trials. We’ve been analyzing the new BMW sleds and making some changes along the way, and hopefully we’ll have it all figured out so we’re ready to go even faster by the time we’re back here for the world cup.”
Army World Class Athlete Program soldier-athletes Nick Cunningham (Monterey, Calif.) and Dallas Robinson (Georgetown, Ky.) teamed together again today to earn second place behind USA-1. The crew pushed identical starts of 4.83 seconds before clocking finishes of 48.59 and 48.96 seconds (1:37.55). Because Holcomb has a bye onto the team, second place was a victory for fourth-year pilot Cunningham.
Cory Butner (Yucaipa, Calif.) and Chuck Berkeley (Walnut Creek, Calif.) repeated their third place finish from last week. The duo posted starts of 4.89 and 4.88 for down times of 48.72 and 48.90 seconds, respectively. Butner and Berkeley finished just 0.07 seconds from Cunningham and Robinson to place them in promising position for a spot on the team.
Bobsled selection races will continue in Park City, Utah on Friday with the final women’s bobsled race and the first men’s four-man bobsled competition. The men will compete in four-man again on Saturday before the national team is named on Oct. 27th. The national team will race on the world cup tour, and points earned in world cup races will play a role in Olympic selection.
Please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Director, at abird@usbsf.com or 518-354-2250 with media inquiries.
Results:
Men’s Bobsled
1. Steven Holcomb and Chris Fogt 1:37.20 (48.38, 48.82); 2. Nick Cunningham and Dallas Robinson 1:37.55 (48.59, 48.96); 3. Cory Butner and Chuck Berkeley 1:37.62 (48.72, 48.90); 4. Codie Bascue and Adam Clark 1:38.29 (49.03, 49.26); 5. Jay Noller and Thomas White 1:39.28 (49.44, 49.84); 6. Jake Peterson and Jesse Beckom 1:39.49 (49.72, 49.77); 7. Colin Coughlin and Nic Taylor 1:39.83 (49.81, 50.02); 8. Shane Hook and Dakarai Kongela 1:39.93 (49.67, 50.26);
About the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation
The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. The USBSF would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support: BMW of North America, Under Armour, Kampgrounds of America, Boomerang Carnets, 24 Hour Fitness, KBC Helmets, Azad Watches, Latta USA, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Autism Speaks, Park City Lodging, Inc., EDAS/Ripxx, UberSense, Tesa Tape and Ferris Mfg. Corp. For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org.
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