WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) — Olympic champion Hannah Neise of Germany won the season-opening Women’s Skeleton World Cup race Thursday, while Hallie Clarke of the US tied for second in her debut and gave the American program its best result in almost six years.
Neise finished two races in 1:47.40, while Clarke and Britain’s Brogan Crowley shared silver with times of 1:47.58.
Clarke, 18, born in Canada but now in her first season racing for the US and in a World Cup race for the first time, was the leader after the first race but couldn’t stop Neise, who recovered. to get her first gold in the World Cup.
Clarke’s silver was the first silver medal for the USA in a World Cup skeleton race since Megan Henry won bronze in Igls, Austria on January 17, 2020. The last silver medal for the USA The USA in skeleton was on January 20, 2017, when Kendall Wesenberg was second in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Kelly Curtis, who went to the Olympics last season for the US, was Thursday 11th and Wesenberg, in her return to the World Cup after retirement, was 15th in the 16-woman field.
In the men’s race early Thursday, Britain’s Marcus Wyatt took his first victory in 34 World Cup races. Seunggi Jung of Korea was second and Britain’s Matt Weston was third.
Germany occupied the next two places; Olympic silver medalist Axel Jungk was fourth, one place ahead of reigning Olympic gold medalist Christopher Grotheer.
Austin Florian was ninth and 2022 Olympian Andrew Blaser was 14th for the USA in what was a men’s field of 15 luges.
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