Regan Lauscher reclaims national women's title at Canadian Luge Championships
-Moffats continue doubles comeback,
The triumph arrived exactly one year after the 25-year-old Red Deer, Alta. native and 2002 Olympian captured Canada's first ever silver medal on the luge World Cup circuit.
"It was a good day last year at this time, so I was thinking that hopefully it was going to be a good day again this year," said Lauscher, who unseated defending 2004-05 champion Madison Dupuis en route to the sixth national title of her career. "It felt good to reclaim the title, to really step back into the game and be in control. The training went really good all week and I felt confident going in."
Lauscher clinched the championship after sliding down the track in times of 47.53 and 47.61 seconds, for a combined two-run total of 1:35.14. Meaghan Simister claimed the silver, with the 19-year-old Regina native clocking in for a two-heat total of 1:35.49. Rounding out the winners' podium was 18-year-old Alex Gough, of Calgary, who came in third with 1:35.86.
In the men's singles event, 23-year-old Jorgen Krause slid to the first national crown of his career, with the Didsbury, Alta. native posting a two-run total of 1:30.72.
"I really wanted to set up some good times leading into next week, and really show what Canadian athletes can do," said the Didsbury, Alta. native, referring to the upcoming Viessmann Luge World Cup event in Calgary on December 9 and 10. "It was definitely a good, close race."
Joining Krause on the winner's podium was Sam Edney, fresh off his best ever performance in men's singles on the World Cup tour. The 21-year-old Calgary native clocked in for a two-heat total of 1:30.87 en route to the silver medal. Defending Canadian men's singles champion Jeff Christie, meanwhile, took the bronze with a mark of 1:30.91.
The Canadian Luge Championships featured other Olympic veterans in addition to Lauscher, including Calgary brothers Chris and Mike Moffat. The Moffats, who recently clinched a berth in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games after a three-year hiatus from the sport, continued their impressive comeback after sliding to the national title in the doubles event.
"It felt really good to win today," said Chris Moffat, the elder of the brothers at age 26. "It's nice to be able to use this race to our advantage with the World Cup coming up on our home track."
The sibling duo raced down the ice in times of 44.50 and 44.64 seconds for a two-run total of 1:29.14. Taking the silver medal with a two-run total of 1:29.37 were defending doubles champions Grant Albrecht and Eric Pothier, the former sliding partners of Mike and Chris Moffat, respectively. The Calgary team of Marshall Savill and Aaron Christensen claimed the bronze after recording 1:30.13.
The Canadian Luge Team is back in action December 9 and 10, for the fourth installment of the Viessmann Luge World Cup tour in Calgary.
The Canadian Luge Associaton is the governing body for luge racing in Canada. In partnership with CODA, the Canadian Luge Association operates the Olympic Luge Training Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, which develops our nation's high-performance luge athletes and promotes the sport across the country. For more information on the Canadian Luge Association, please visit us at www.luge.ca on the Internet.
Men's Singles Top-Five Results:
1.Jorgen Krause, Didsbury, Alta., 1:30.72; 2. Sam Edney, Calgary, 1:30.87; 3. Jeff Christie, Vancouver, 1:30.91; 4. Ian Cockerline, Calgary, 1:31.37; 5. Mike Jepson, Calgary, 1:31.40.
Women's Top-Five Results:
1. Regan Lauscher, Red Deer, Alta., 1:35.14; Meaghan Simister, Regina, 1:35.49; Alex Gough, Calgary, 1:35.86; Madison Dupuis, Calgary, 1:35.90; Denae Delcourt, Calgary, 1:45.69.
Doubles Top-Three Results:
1. Chris and Mike Moffat, Calgary, 1:29.14; Grant Albrecht, Red Deer, Alta., and Eric Pothier, Airdrie, Alta., 1:29.37; Marshall Savill, Calgary, and Aaron Christensen, Calgary, 1:30.13.
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| Chris Dornan CODA, Communications Specialist C: 403-585-0254 |