Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse Team Up to Win Bronze Medal at Bobsleigh World Cup in Lake Placid

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.—Canada’s Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse teamed up to win a bronze medal at the women’s bobsleigh World Cup on one of the toughest tracks on the circuit in Lake Placid, N.Y. on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Calgarian, who is the pilot of the Canada 2 sled for the third straight season, locked up the fourth World Cup podium finish of her career after clocking a combined time of one minute 57.23 seconds on the 20-corner Lake Placid track.

“Today was a great day and everything came together very well,” said Humphries, who clocked times of 58.67 and 58.65. “Obviously there were several mistakes that I made out there so there is always room for improvement, but our starts were great today so I’m happy.”

With an explosive Heather Moyse, of Summerside, P.E.I., bolting Humphries off the start block, the Canadians reached their goal of putting down two consistent runs. Humphries and Moyse also teamed up to win a silver medal at the Whistler World Cup last spring.

“Heather and I have a great relationship and have lots of history together so it is comfortable for sure,” said Humphries. “Heather is so fast and extremely powerful so it is always a little extra confidence when you know she is there with you at the start.”

While Moyse will head back to Summerside, P.E.I. tonight to carry the Olympic torch in her hometown on Sunday, Humphries will return to Calgary for a few days of rest with her second podium finish of her career in Lake Placid. She drove to her first-ever podium finish of her career in Lake Placid when she was third in 2007.

“This is a place where I learned to drive and it is a driving track which suits my style,” said Humphries. “I also really like the fact that some people are scared of this track and that gives me extra motivation to do well here.”

Two German sleds finished ahead of Humphries. Cathleen Martini and Romy Logsch teamed up in the Germany 2 sled to post a winning time of 1:56.15, while Sandra Kiriasis and Janine Tischer were second in Germany 1 at 1:56.56.

Two other Canadian women also hit the start line. Helen Upperton, of Calgary, and Shelley-Ann Brown, of Pickering, Ont., settled for sixth spot with a time of 1:57.46. Calgary’s Amanda Stepenko and Amanda Moreley, of Surrey, B.C., were 12th (1:58.17).

Earlier in the day, Canada’s Pierre Lueders made a charge for the podium in the men’s two-man race in Lake Placid. The 39-year-old teamed up with fellow Edmontonian, David Bissett, to finish fourth with a time of 1:54.23.

“We made a few mistakes at the top on both runs that cost us some valuable time. I was able to make some of that up down the track but not enough,” said Lueders, who is a four-time Olympian and winner of 88 World Cup medals. “Dave pushed really well and it was a definite improvement on last week and that is what it is all about.”

Lyndon Rush, of Humboldt, Sask., teamed up with Calgary’s Lascelles Brown to finish second in the Canada 2 sled with a time of 1:54.47. Rush, who won his first-ever World Cup medal last week when he took the gold in the four-man race in Park City, finished seventh at the World Championships in Lake Placid last year. Rush, who will turn 29 next week, posted his best two-man finish last year at the Whistler World Cup where he was fourth.

The United States sleds stole the top-two spots on the podium. John Napier and Charles Berkeley drove the USA 2 sled to the golden spot on the podium with a time of 1:53.62, while Steven Holcomb and Justin Olsen were second in USA 1 at 1:53.88. Switzerland’s Ivo Rueegg and Roman Hendschin rounded out the podium in third at 1:53.91.

The World Cup wraps up in Lake Placid 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. Cathleen Martini/Romy Logsch, GER 2, 1:56.15; 2. Sandra Kiriasis/Janine Tischer, GER 1, 1:56.56; 3. Kaillie Humphries, Calgary/Heather Moyse, Summerside, P.E.I., CAN 2, 1:57.23; 4. Shauna Rohbock/Elana Meyers, USA 1, 1:57.31; 5. Claudia Schramm/Christin Senkel, GER 3, 1:57.24.

Other Canadian Results:

6. Helen Upperton, Calgary/Shelley-Ann Brown, Pickering, Ont., CAN 1, 1:57.46; 12. Amanda Stepenko, Calgary/Amanda Moreley, Surrey, B.C., CAN 3, 1:58.17.

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

1. John Napier/Charles Berkeley, USA 2, 1:53.62; 2. Steven Holcomb/Justin Olsen, USA 1, 1:53.88; 3. Ivo Rueegg/Roman Hendschin, SUI 1, 1:53.91; 4. Pierre Lueders/David Bissett, Edmonton, CAN 1, 1:54.23; 5. Thomas Florschuetz/Marc Kuehne, GER 1, 1:54.35

Other Canadian Results:

7. Lyndon Rush, Humboldt, Sask./Lascelles Brown, Calgary, CAN 2, 1:54.47

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