2016/2017 FIL World Cup – Women’s Luge – Race 2

From Lake Placid, USA

In the 2015 women’s luge race in Lake Placid, the United States swept the podium and placed four women in the top seven. Coming into the 2016 event, there were lofty expectations.

German Tatjana Hüfner looked to avenge the American sweep a year ago. Hüfner came into the second run with the lead over Americans Summer Britcher and Erin Hamlin, and after both Britcher and Hamlin failed to find the speed they needed to win, Hüfner took control to win a gold.

Neither Britcher nor Hamlin could land on the podium, as Canadians Kimberley McRae and Alex Gough put down two of the three fastest times of the race to move into silver and bronze position, giving Canada two of the three podium positions.

Britcher would settle for fourth, ahead of Natalie Geiseberger of Germany and American Emily Sweeney, who rounded out the top six. Hamlin finished seventh, three spots ahead of teammate Raychel Germaine, who helped put all four American sleds in the top ten.

Italian Sandra Robatscher was disqualified for overheated runners, and was one of five sliders who finished the race without a time. Latvian Ulla Zirne and Austrian Miriam Kastlunger both crashed in their second run, while Ukrainian Olena Stetskiv and Russian Ekaterina Katnikova crashed in their first.

Results:

Pos Name Nation Bib Start 1 Start 2 Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 Tatjana Hüfner GER 21 6.377 6.355 44.249 44.389 1:28.638
2 Kimberley McRae CAN 24 6.449 6.407 44.445 44.261 1:28.706
3 Alex Gough CAN 13 6.401 6.389 44.448 44.275 1:28.723
4 Summer Britcher USA 17 6.443 6.418 44.419 44.339 1:28.758
5 Natalie Geisenberger GER 22 6.391 6.372 44.553 44.271 1:28.824
6 Emily Sweeney USA 16 6.479 6.449 44.472 44.438 1:28.910
7 Erin Hamlin USA 19 6.447 6.475 44.430 44.514 1:28.944
8 Julia Taubitz GER 15 6.509 6.497 44.510 44.749 1:29.259
9 Dajana Eitberger GER 23 6.453 6.465 44.903 44.365 1:29.268
10 Raychel Germaine USA 12 6.526 6.537 44.640 44.789 1:29.429
11 Eliza Cauce LAT 18 6.408 6.411 44.621 44.838 1:29.459
12 Birgit Platzer AUT 14 6.468 6.443 44.627 44.885 1:29.512
13 Ekaterina Baturina RUS 10 6.426 6.425 44.756 44.813 1:29.569
14 Tatyana Ivanova RUS 20 6.422 6.442 44.880 44.770 1:29.650
15 Andrea Vötter ITA 9 6.508 6.489 44.836 44.818 1:29.654
16 Ewa Kuls POL 4 4.568 6.427 45.024 45.096 1:30.120
17 Karoline Melas NOR 1 6.601 6.598 45.282 45.503 1:30.785
18 Tereza Noskova CZE 7 6.566 6.588 45.642 45.637 1:31.279
19 Cezara Alexandra Curmei ROU 2 6.575 6.603 46.119 45.913 1:32.032
DNF Ulla Zirne LAT 11 6.544 6.514 44.924 DNF
DNF Miriam Kastlunger AUT 8 6.509 6.477 44.996 DNF
DNF Olena Stetskiv UKR 3 6.520 DNF
DNF Ekaterina Katnikova RUS 6 6.502 DNF
DSQ Sandra Robatscher ITA 5 6.477 6.475 45.089 45.027 DSQ