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Holcomb Ties Track Record
By Amanda Bird // U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation // February 18, 2007
Winterberg, Germany—Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) and his four-man bobsled team tied the track record and finished with the silver medal, just 0.03 seconds from gold, at today’s fiercely competitive World Cup event in Winterberg, Germany. Grayson Fertig (Oxford, Conn.) raced in his second ever four-man World Cup competition, placing fourteenth.
“We were all skeptical going into the race today, because we weren’t quick in four-man training,” men’s bobsled head coach Brian Shimer said. “It’s easy to get down, but hard to be fast on this track. Steve found what he needed today, stayed focused, and was able to prove that he’s one of the best drivers in the world.”
Holcomb teamed with one of the fastest push crews in the world, Pavle Jovanovic (Tom’s River, N.J.), Steve Mesler (Calgary, Alberta) and Brock Kreitzburg (Akron, Ohio), almost tying the start record set in the first heat by Russian Evgeni Popov’s team. Popov’s crew pushed a 5.06 start time, while Holcomb’s crew pushed a 5.07.
“Steve’s team was one-hundredth off at the start, but by the next timing eye they were three-hundredths ahead,” Shimer said. “The team did their job and had great velocity, so they were really the best start crew on the hill today.”
The hundredth of a second at the start made no difference at the finish, as both teams tied with a track record time of 55.37 seconds in the first heat.
Holcomb was first of the two teams to push off in the second heat, finishing with a 55.74 for a combined time of 1:51.11. Popov crossed the finish line in 55.71, only 0.03 seconds ahead of Holcomb, to claim the gold.
“In the second run Holcomb was right on the edge of crashing,” Shimer said. “He was late exiting corner thirteen, had his runners off the ice, and hitting the wall kept him upright. He lost time there against Popov, because Steve was actually three-hundredths ahead of Popov before entering that corner.”
Knowing the race would come down to only hundredths of a second is a realization Holcomb has become familiar with, after having finished only four-hundredths away from the medals at World Championships. Head coach Brian Shimer has had his own experience with finishing only hundredths of a second away from the medal stand.
“At the Nagano Olympics in 1998 I was only two one-hundredths away from the bronze,” Shimer said. “That’s the sport.”
Over half a second behind for the bronze was Latvian sled driven by Janis Minins, denying the Germans a medal on their home track. Reigning Olympic and World Champion Andre Lange had the highest German finish, placing fifth.
“Not to be on the podium on your own track, I’m not sure that’s happened much before,” Shimer said.
U.S. four-man National Champion Fertig teamed with Jesse Beckom III (Winston-Salem, N.C.), Tim O’Mara (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Theron Johnson (Wheaton, Md.), placing fourteenth after runs of 56.31 and 56.34 for a combined time of 1:52.65. Fertig climbed two places after the first heat for a respectable top fifteen finish.
After today’s race, Holcomb is second in overall four-man World Cup standings with 570 points. Popov continues to lead with 640 points, while Minins is in third with 505.
In combined World Cup standings, Holcomb leads with 1160 points after having won nine medals this season. In second is Pierre Lueders of Canada with 1075 points, and in third is Popov with 930.
“We’re excited about moving on to the World Cup finale,” Shimer said. “After World Championships, it’s difficult to maintain focus and to stay sharp. But these guys are having fun taking it all in, and hopefully we can win an overall title next week.”
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