Pilot Cathleen Martini and Romy Logsch of Germany take their first run in the FIBT Women's Bobsled World Cup Friday in Park City, Utah. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)Germany's Cathleen Martini has won the women's bobsled World Cup season-opener, driving her way to victory on the 2002 Olympic track for the second straight year.
Martini teamed with Romy Logsch to finish two runs in 1 minute, 39.92 seconds — just ahead of the German team of Sandra Kiriasis and Berit Wiacker, which was 0.20 seconds back.
American sleds finished third and fourth. Erin Pac matched her best World Cup finish, driving to the bronze with Michelle Rzepka. Bree Schaaf paired with Ingrid Marcum to finish fourth.
The Canadian entries finished fifth and sixth — Helen Upperton and Shelly-Ann Brown posted a combined time of 1:40.45 while Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse were 0.02 seconds behind.
Retirement over for American Hays
American Todd Hays teamed with Steven Langton to win a silver medal in the opening two-man World Cup bobsleigh race of the season. Hays' time over two runs was one minute 37.19 seconds, only 0.11 seconds back of the Swiss team of Beat Hefti and Alex Baumann.
It was Hays' first top-three finish in a World Cup race since driving to four-man gold at St. Moritz in January 2006.
"Feels just like I remember," said Hays, the 2002 silver four-man medallist from Texas who emerged from a brief retirement to try for the Vancouver Games, which would be his fourth berth on an Olympic team. "It feels great. Been a while coming. Steve Langton pushing me, my sled was really rolling today."
It was a rough night for Canada's two entrants. Lyndon Rush of Humboldt, Sask., and teammate Lascelles Brown of Calgary placed seventh, while Edmonton's Pierre Lueders and Neville Wright were ninth.
Hays' win capped a stellar night for American sliders. Steve Holcomb and Curt Tomasevicz were fourth in the men's race, just behind bronze medallists Ivo Rueegg and Cedric Grand of Switzerland.
"We're all right on track for where we want to be," Holcomb said.