Only 17, Olympic hopeful Kate Hansen gets a spot on the US luge team for World Cup opener
By APMonday, November 16, 2009
17-year-old Hansen makes US World Cup luge team
WHISTLER, British Columbia — Kate Hansen clinched a spot on the USA Luge national team for the first two World Cup races Sunday, giving the 17-year-old a chance at making the Olympics.
Hansen finished first in the four-race selection series, which ended Sunday at the 2010 Olympic track. She’ll join reigning world champion Erin Hamlin, Julia Clukey and Megan Sweeney when the World Cup season opens in Calgary, Alberta this coming weekend.
The men’s squad for the first four World Cup events is already set, with 2006 Olympic fourth-place finisher Tony Benshoof joined by Trent Matheson, Chris Mazdzer and three-time Olympian for Sweden, Bengt Walden, who recently obtained U.S. citizenship.
Doubles teams will be Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, Christian Niccum and Dan Joye, and Matt Mortensen and Preston Griffall.
