Humphries shines at World Cup
LAKE PLACID — It’s safe to say that Kaillie Humphries is good on any bobsled track, but when it comes to racing in Lake Placid, Humphries might be at her best.
Racing at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Cup at the Mount Van Hoevenberg track for the first time since 2019 this past weekend, Humphries, alongside push-athlete Kaysha Love, took home a gold medal in the two-women bobsled event for Team USA — the best result by an American in the three-day event.
The win also marked the sixth time Humphries has won gold in the two-person event in Lake Placid. She has now medaled 10 times on the Mount Van Hoevenberg track in the 13 two-woman World Cup events she has competed in Lake Placid.
“To be able to compete here at home in Lake Placid, where I learned to drive a long time ago — and Kaysha just learned to drive here — it’s really special. In front of family, and friends on our home track,” Humphries said. “To win on a U.S. track for Team USA is awesome. Kaysha and I haven’t raced together since the Olympics. It’s really nice to be able to take home the win today and not only for the U.S. but for us as well.”
Humphries previously raced with Emily Renna in Whistler World Cup on Nov. 26 and Jasmine Jones in the Park City World Cup on Dec. 3. She placed third in both competitions.
The race on Dec. 18 marked Love’s first World Cup appearance of the season because she is in the process of transitioning from a push athlete to a driver, according to the Associated Press.
“To actually be on a home track with family and friends just to hear the crowd as we were about to start our race was such an incredible feeling,” Love said.
On Sunday, Humphries and Love put down the fastest run in the first heat, 57.39 seconds, and turned in the fastest time on the second run to finish with a winning total of 1:54.93.
German pilot Laura Nolte, who won Olympic Gold in the two-women event in February, took second place. Nolte teamed up with Lena Neunecker to finish with a combined run time of 1:55.05. Germany’s Kim Kalicki and Anabel Galander took third in 1:55.52.
Team USA’s Jones and Nicole Vogt took eighth place in 1:57.09, while fellow teammates Riley Compton and Macy Tarlton finished in ninth in 1:57.84.
In the monobob race on Dec. 17, Germany’s Nolte recorded her first World Cup victory in the event. Nolte finished with a combined run time of 2:01.31 to edge out Humphries, who won gold in the 2022 Winter Olympics for monobob. Humphries claimed second place in 2:01.42, while Germany’s Lisa Buckwitz was third in 2:01.92.
“It’s hard not to be happy with a silver,” Humphries said. “Any time you can get on the podium is awesome. The girls in the competition are still very stiff. The Germans are a force to be reckoned with in our sport.
“Overall, I worked to take gold and made a few mistakes. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” she added. “I’m happy with silver and happy with the results and I think what I learned from (Saturday) allowed us to win (Sunday), which is huge.”
Humphries did have the fastest run time in the second heat, but Nolte’s track record of 1:00.47 in the first heat was too much for her to overcome.
Team USA’s Vogt finished in seventh place in 2:03.70, while Compton was eighth in 2:04.44.
After three World Cups this season, Humphries ranks first overall in the World Cup tour for monobob and second in the two-woman. She has earned a medal in all six events that she has competed in this season.
The IBSF World Cup wrapped up on Dec. 18. The next World Cup will be held in Winterberg, Germany from Jan. 6-8, 2023.