Page 23 - aruba-today-20171216

A23
SPORTS Saturday 16 december 2017

U.S. Olympic 10-person

luge team set for

men and women

By TIM REYNOLDS from Salt Lake. It means the
AP Sports Writer world to me to have them
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — here. It’s as much of a bur-
Taylor Morris’ eyes filled den on me as it is for my
with tears, for good reason. family. They put as much
For four years, he’s car- effort into this as anybody
ried around a burden. He else, so I’m really excited to
missed qualifying for the bring this victory to my fam-
2014 Olympic team by ily and my friends and the
a ridiculously small sliver community back home.”
of time — four one-thou- In all, seven of the 10 spots
sandths of a second. And came down to the final
over those four years, he’s day of competition in a
dealt with injuries and plen- weeks-long process to
ty of doubt. No more. make the team. Olympic
He’s finally an Olympian. veterans Tucker West and
Morris claimed one of the Chris Mazdzer will join Morris
10 spots on the U.S. Olym- on the men’s team head-
pic luge team for the Py- ed to Pyeongchang. Matt
eongchang Games on Mortensen and Jayson Ter- Chris Mazdzer of the United States gestures after finishing a World Cup luge event in Lake Placid,
Friday, making him one of diman are one of the two N.Y., on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017.
four first-timers on the ros- U.S. doubles teams head- Associated Press
ter. He did it in style, too, ing to the Pyeongchang on Thursday night without biting for the Americans. run — celebrated, then got
by getting a fifth-place fin- Games, while Justin Krew- even racing — they got Krewson and Sherk were huge hugs of congratula-
ish in a World Cup race on son and Andrew Sherk locked into berths when 0.012 seconds behind Ja- tions from Hyrns and Espi-
the Americans’ home track grabbed the other spot. Raychel Germaine, the cob Hyrns and Anthony noza just moments after
in Lake Placid — more The women’s luge spots only other U.S. woman who Espinoza after their first of their own Olympic dream
than enough to clinch were already decided, could have caught them, two runs Friday. That’s ba- for 2018 ended.
that berth that eluded him with 2014 bronze medal- failed to qualify for Satur- sically a separation of a “I’m just thankful to be in
four years ago. “It’s a long ist Erin Hamlin, Summer day’s women’s World Cup few inches over about a the place that I am right
time coming,” Morris said, Britcher and Emily Swee- race. “It takes a little pres- mile of ice, less time than it now,” Krewson said. “It’s
struggling to get words out ney representing the U.S. sure off,” Britcher said. “But takes to blink an eye. And it really sad. We both train so
through his emotions. “My Hamlin clinched her spot I’m really upset that Ray- meant that the second run hard, the entire team, re-
family’s out here, my wife’s last month, and Britcher chel isn’t able to race.” was basically winner-take- ally. We put so much time
out here, she came out and Sweeney got theirs West and Mazdzer were Pyeongchang, a one-race and effort into everything.
largely assured of spots shootout between those I wish we could all go and
Appeals court gives life to man’s before Friday, but they two teams for an Olympic compete for our country
together.”
weren’t official. And now, berth.
Super Bowl tickets lawsuit both can exhale and get Krewson and Sherk went Hamlin is going for her
ready for Pyeongchang. down first, since the sec- fourth time, Mazdzer for his
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A standing to bring the law- “At the end of the day, that ond heat of sliding races is third and West and Britcher
man’s lawsuit has offered suit. feels really good,” Mazdzer done in reverse order of fin- for their second. Mortensen
a plausible legal argument Friday’s ruling held that Fin- said. “It wasn’t a surprise, ish from the first heat. and Terdiman are also two-
that the National Football kelman “alleged sufficient but it was not easy — by Their second-run time was time Olympians, though
League’s ticket policies factual allegations to show any means.” 43.882 seconds. they went to Sochi with dif-
for the 2014 Super Bowl at that Defendants’ withhold- Krewson’s first request as an Hyrns and Espinoza finished ferent teammates.
MetLife Stadium may have ing raised the price that he Olympian was simple. He in 43.956. Morris, Krewson, Sherk and
violated state consumer paid for tickets on the sec- wanted food. The final margin between Sweeney are first-timers.
protection laws, a federal ondary market” and that “I haven’t really been able the sleds: 0.062 seconds. “It’s just been so stressful,”
appeals court ruled Friday the matter should be re- to sleep or eat much, so And that was all it took Sherk said. “This entire first
in reversing a lower court solved at trial. That will have I’m pretty hungry,” Krewson to decide an Olympic half of the season has been
and allowing the case to to wait until New Jersey’s said. berth. Krewson and Sherk really stressful, especially
move forward. Supreme Court reviews the Eating and sleeping will get — who was groaning as these last few days. It’s a lot
A lower court had ruled case, the 3rd Circuit judges easier now. he watched Hyrns and Es- of weight lifted off my shoul-
Josh Finkelman didn’t have wrote Friday.q The doubles race was nail- pinoza take their second ders, finally knowing.”q