THE SLIDING SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE FOR TEAM USA WITH NATIONALS AND SELECTION RACES
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by Abby Slenker
LAKE PLACID, NY (March 29, 2024) - The 2023/2024 bobsled/skeleton season for Team USA is coming to a close. Today, the US National Championships concluded, an event that coincided with the spring half of the selection races for some athletes.
Events kicked off yesterday, March 28, with heats one and two of Men’s and Women’s Skeleton and the two-heat events of Women’s Monobob and 2-Man Bobsled.
In Women’s Monobob, Sylvia Hoffman placed first with a time of 2:03.15. Riley Tejcek placed second with a time of 2:04.77.
In 2-Man, Frank Del Duca and Josh Williamson placed first with a time of 1:54.24. Kris Horn and Hakeem Abdul-Saboor placed second with a time of 1:54.84, Hunter Church and Charlie Volker placed third with a time of 1:55:37, Geoff Gadbois and Bryce Cheek placed fourth with a time of 1:55.62 and Grady Mercer with Logan Radik placed fifth with a time of 1:57.53.
Events continued today with the final two heats for Women and Men’s Skeleton as well as two-heat races of 2-Woman and 4-man Bobsled.
In Women’s Skeleton, Katie Uhlaender finished in first with a four-run time of 3:45.78. Sara Roderick placed second with a time of 3:47.08, Michelle Toukan placed third with a time of 3:49.44, Logan Wudi placed fourth with a time of 3:50.69, Sha’Londa Terry placed fifth with a time of 3:53.26 and Hannah Gaskins placed sixth with a time of 3:53.68.
In Men’s Skeleton, Austin Florian came in first with his four-run time of 3:41.10. Dan Barefoot placed second with his total of 3:41.82, Nick Tucker placed third with a time of 3:45.44, Hunter Williams placed fourth with a time of 3:45.48, Bradley Nicol placed fifth with a time of 3:47.82, Dylan Burris placed sixth with a time of 3:49.37, and Darryl Payne placed seventh with a time of 3:49.72. Sam Allred, Lukas Kissell, Andrew Whittier-Neises, and Tony Furnells placed eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh with respective times of 3:50.62, 3:51.37, 3:55.34, and 3:57.30.
In 2-Woman Bobsled, Hoffman and Sydney Milani placed first with a time of 1:57.16 while Tejcek alongside Macy Tarlton placed second with a time of 1:57.87.
In 4-Man Bobsled, Del Duca, Williamson, Adrian Adams, and Manteo Mitchell placed first with a time of 1:51.39. Church, Volker, Boone Neiderhofer, and Gage Smith placed second with a time of 1:51.54. Horn, Abdul-Saboor, Brandon Jetter, and Jace Johnson placed third with a time of 1:51.91. Gadbois, Zach Surles, Cheek, and Collin Storms placed fourth while Mercer, Radik, Trevor Chase, and Milton Braasch placed fifth with respective times of 1:54.94 and 1:54.85.
Earlier this week on the 24th, the final IBSF Para Sport World Cup took place in La Plagne, France. After securing a first-place finish the day before, Bob Balk earned another top-six finish with his time of 2:13.97 earning him fifth place, ending his season ranked third overall in the world in Para Bobsled. Austin Parker placed seventh with a time of 2:14.04, Will Castillo placed 11th with a time of 2:14.63 and David Christopher placed 14th with a time of 2:16.18.
“This was a busy and exciting season for Team USA. While it is always bittersweet to have the last races of the year now behind us, I am excited to see what next season has in store for us,” shared Curt Tomesevicz, Director of Sport Performance for USA Bobsled/Skeleton.
US Para Sliding World Championships will be held in Lake Placid March 30 through 31st which will coincide with National Selection Races for the team. April 1 through 3rd they will host a Beginners Camp for military veterans.
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About USA Bobsled/Skeleton
USA Bobsled/Skeleton is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton racing in the United States. Based in Lake Placid, NY, USA Bobsled/Skeleton oversees the development and training of American athletes at all levels of competition.
