Holcomb Wins U.S. bobsled Trials

From U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation

PARK CITY, Utah- U.S. national team trials concluded after the final America's Cup competition today at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. The U.S. team collaboratively claimed 28 medals over four days of competition in the first stop of the America's Cup circuit. Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) was triumphant again, claiming his second international win of the season in the final four-man bobsled race against a field of 11 sleds.

Despite having a bye onto the 2008-09 World Cup team, Holcomb participated in the series of team trials races to prepare for the season. Holcomb and his crew of Justin Olsen (San Antonio, Texas), Steve Mesler (Calgary, Alberta), and Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.) won today's America's Cup and team trials competition with a combined time of 1:40.12. The team powered off the starting block with the best push times of the race, a 4.82 and 4.85, for the fastest runs of the day, a 50.49 and 49.63.

Finishing 1.10 seconds behind team Holcomb for second place was 2002 Olympic silver medalist Todd Hays (Del Rio, Texas) with a total time of 1:41.22. Hays and squad of Jesse Beckom (Chicago, Ill.), Bill Schuffenhauer (Ogden, Utah) and Casey Strickland (Oxford, Fla.) pushed times of 4.92 and 4.98, to slide runs of 50.87 and 50.35, respectively, to make their final bid for the World Cup team.

Taking third to assist the U.S. team with a sweep of the podium was 2002 Olympic bronze medalist Mike Kohn (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and his team of TJ Burns (Blue Bell, Pa.), Jacob Miller (Waterford, Va.) and Nick Cunningham (Monterey, Calif.). The team pushed the second fastest times of the race, an identical 4.91 in both heats. Kohn piloted his sled to a bronze medal finish with a total time of 1:41.73 after runs of 51.20 and 50.53.

The 2008-09 men's bobsled World Cup team will be announced shortly following a team meeting today. For complete results of today's America's Cup race, please visit www.fibt.com. Full results for the national team trials competition are listed below.