ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (Jan. 30, 2020)– Kendall Wesenberg (Modesto, Calif.) led the U.S. women in this morning’s World Cup race in St. Moritz with an eighth place finish. Today was her sixth career competition on the all-natural course, and the site of her first career World Cup medal.
“This is a fun track and in such a beautiful spot, so it’s hard to have a bad day here,” Wesenberg said. “I did about as good I could have done on the bottom of the track and I feel good about that, but I could have done better at the top to grow my speed.”
Nine months ago Wesenberg had surgery on her left hip, and she’s continuing to gain back strength and speed. Wesenberg’s start times are gradually coming back, and she clocked some of the fastest speeds at the bottom of the track today.
Wesenberg was in sixth position in a tightly packed field after a first heat time of one minute, 10.74 seconds. She matched her first run start time of 5.55 seconds in run two, and raced to the finish with the eighth fastest time of 1:10.92. Wesenberg clocked a total time of 2:21.66 for eighth place.
Team Germany claimed gold and silver today. Tina Hermann was victorious in 2:19.87, followed by Jacqueline Loelling was second in 2:20.28. Austrian Janine Flock claimed bronze in 2:20.60.
Megan Henry (Roxbury, Conn.) and Savannah Graybill (Denver, Pa.) finished 13th and 19th, respectively. Henry posted a total time of 2:22.16 after sliding runs of 1:10.90 and 1:11.26. Graybill clocked runs of 1:11.42 and 1:11.59 for a combined time of 2:23.01.
Henry competed in two Intercontinental Cup competitions in St. Moritz before today, while Graybill this was Graybill’s fourth World Cup on the famed Swiss track. Henry and Graybill were teammates before coming to USA Skeleton; the pair played field hockey together at American University.
The St. Moritz World Cup continues tomorrow with the women’s and men’s two-man bobsled races. NBC Sports and Olympic Channel will have broadcast and digital streaming coverage. Fans can catch all the action in spectacular high definition via NBC Sports online at NBCSports.com/Live, or through the NBC Sports app. Additional coverage will be available on OlympicChannel.com and the Olympic Channel app.
Please contact USABS Marketing & Communications Director Amanda Bird at 518-354-2250, or amanda.bird@usabs.com, with media inquiries.
Results
1. Tina Hermann (GER) 2:19.87 (1:10.05, 1:09.82); 2. Jacqueline Loelling (GER) 2:20.28 (1:10.24, 1:10.04); 3. Janine Flock (AUT) 2:20.60 (1:10.25, 1:10.35); 8. Kendall Wesenberg (USA) 2:21.66 (1:10.74, 1:10.92); 13. Megan Henry (USA) 2:22.16 (1:10.90, 1:11.26); 19. Savannah Graybill (USA) 2:23.01 (1:11.42, 1:11.59);
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