Canadian Bobsleigh Women Make History Winning Gold and Silver at World Cup in Altenberg

ALTENBERG, Ger.—Canada’s bobsleigh women made history on Saturday after finishing one-two in a World Cup race in Altenberg, Germany.

Calgary’s Kaillie Humphries teamed up with Heather Moyse, of Summerside, P.E.I., to win the gold medal in Canada 1, while Calgary’s Helen Upperton and Edmonton’s Jenny Ciochetti drove the Canada 2 sled to the silver medal position.

The 24-year-old Humphries and 31-year-old Moyse completed the World Cup triple crown in Germany after posting a track record at 56.79 in the first run, a start record in the second heat at 5.74 and a gold-medal time of 1:53.60.

“We got the hat-trick today and you can’t ask for more than that,” beamed Humphries following the awards ceremony. “I really love this track, but I still made a couple of mistakes. No run is ever perfect though and with our amazing starts we were still able to get the gold and it is awesome.”

Humphries and Moyse have shattered start records each World Cup stop in the five races heading into the holiday break. It is the second time the Canadian duo has reached the podium this year after they won a bronze medal in Lake Placid, and the first victory as a pilot in Humphries’ career.

“I think getting that first win is very important and confirms that you can do it and belong,” said Humphries. “We want to just keep shattering start records and keep rolling leading into the Olympics.”

Upperton also enjoyed a breakthrough in Germany after a slower start to the season to complete the historic day for the Canucks. The 30-year-old clocked a two-run silver-medal time of 1:54.03.

“We have been working very hard this first half of the season and it is definitely nice to head into the Christmas break with a podium finish,” said Upperton. “This is the first time we’ve had two Canadian women on the podium, and a North American sweep. To do that on a German track is absolutely unheard of.”

Shauna Rohbock and Michelle Rzepka, of the United States, finished in third spot with a time of 1:54.11.

Canada’s World Cup rookie Amanda Stepenko, of Calgary, and Amanda Moreley, of Surrey, B.C., continue to edge their way closer to the podium while posting personal best results. Stepenko drove the Canada 3 sled to eighth spot with a time of 1:54.97.

The stellar results didn’t end in the women’s race.

Lyndon Rush, of Humboldt, Sask., and Calgary’s Lascelles Brown, drove the Canada 1 sled to a personal-best fifth-place finish in the men’s two-man race.

Rush, who has two podium finishes this year in the four-man competition, clocked a combined time of 1:51.00.

Andre Lange and Kevin Kuske drove the Germany 1 sled to gold with a time of 1:49.81. Thomas Florschuetz and Marc Kuehne celebrated the silver medal in Germany 2 at 1:50.47, while Ivo Rueegg and Cedric Grand were third at 1:50.71 in Switzerland 3.

The World Cup wraps up in Altenberg on Sunday with the men’s four-man race.

For more information on Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, please visit us at www.bobsleigh.ca on the Internet.

Top-Five Women’s Bobsleigh Results: Complete results at www.fibt.com

1.Kaillie Humphries, Calgary/Heather Moyse, Summerside, P.E.I., CAN 1 1:53.60; 2. Helen Upperton, Calgary/Jenny Ciochetti, Edmonton, CAN 2, 1:54.03; 3. Shauna Rohbock/Michelle Rzepka, USA 1, 1:54.11; 4. Sandra Kiriasis/Berit Wiacker, GER 1, 1:54.12; 5. Claudia Schramm/Christin Senkel, GER 3, 1:54.99

Other Canadian Results:

8. Amanda Stepenko, Calgary/Amanda Moreley, Surrey, B.C., CAN 3, 1:54.97.

Top-Five Men’s Two-Man Bobsleigh Results:

1. Andre Lange/Kevin Kuske, GER 1, 1:49.81; 2. Thomas Florschuetz/Marc Kuehne, GER 2, 1:50.47; 3. Ivo Rueegg/Cedric Grand, SUI 1, 1:50.71; 4. Karl Angerer/Gregor Bermbach, GER 3; 5. Lyndon Rush, Humboldt, Sask./Lascelles Brown, Calgary, CAN 2, 1:51.00

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