LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — Julia Clukey has ended Erin Hamlin’s five-year reign as USA Luge’s national women’s champion, finishing off a narrow victory for the title on Saturday.
Clukey finished four runs down the Mount Van Hoevenberg track in 2 minutes, 59.953 seconds. She ended nationals 0.088 seconds ahead of Hamlin, the former world champion. Summer Britcher (3:00.499) was third.
In the men’s race, Chris Mazdzer and Tucker West shared the title, both finishing in 3:33.262. Mazdzer led by a big margin, more than four-tenths of a second entering the final run. But he had trouble throughout his final trip down the chute, and he and West ended atop the podium. Aidan Kelly (3:33.683) was third.
The doubles title went to Matt Mortensen and Preston Griffall (1:30.631), followed by the teams of Ty Andersen-Anthony Espinoza and Shane Hook-Zac Clark.