TEAM CHURCH QUALIFIES 3RD FOUR MAN SLED FOR 2018 OLYMPIC TEAM
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (Jan. 12, 2018)- Hunter Church (Cadyville, N.Y.) and his team of Brent Fogt (Alpine, Utah), Lou Moreira (Somerville, Mass.) and Sam Michener (Gresham, Ore.) showed poise under pressure Sunday morning and won the final North American Cup (NAC) four-man race to help Team USA qualify its third four-man sled for the upcoming 2018 Olympic Winter Games. In all, USA Bobsled collected 11 medals in six races and nabbed the tour’s overall two-man title to finish out the 2017-2018 NAC season on a high note.
The 21-year-old Church went into Sunday’s race needing a win to qualify the third sled, and performed beyond his years. He said it was one of the most important races of his career.
“There was definitely anxiety mounting throughout the race,” Church said. “I just kept reminding myself that I was doing what I love and to have fun. Just the fact that we were able to accomplish what we were able to accomplish is overwhelming.”
Church, Moreira, Fogt and Michener powered their sled to a 5.33-second start, fastest of the heat, in their first run. Church then navigated the sled to a downtime of 54.66 seconds, his personal best by more than a second. Between heats, the crew sat in first place by three-quarters of a second.
The 21-year-old Church went into Sunday’s race needing a win to qualify the third sled, and performed beyond his years. He said it was one of the most important races of his career.
“There was definitely anxiety mounting throughout the race,” Church said. “I just kept reminding myself that I was doing what I love and to have fun. Just the fact that we were able to accomplish what we were able to accomplish is overwhelming.”
Church, Moreira, Fogt and Michener powered their sled to a 5.33-second start, fastest of the heat, in their first run. Church then navigated the sled to a downtime of 54.66 seconds, his personal best by more than a second. Between heats, the crew sat in first place by three-quarters of a second.
