Huefner gets record-tying luge victory
LAKE PLACID (AP) — Tatjana Huefner finally figured out Mount Van Hoevenberg and got a record-setting win in the process.
The German star tied the career record for World Cup women’s luge wins on Saturday, holding off the Canadian duo of Kimberley McRae and Alex Gough to get her 37th victory on the circuit — tying Sylke Otto of Germany for the all-time lead.
Huefner’s two-run time was 1 minute, 28.638 seconds, good enough to put her into the World Cup season points lead. Canadians took the second and third spots, with McRae taking silver in 1:28.706 and Gough the bronze in 1:28.703.
Huefner has now won a World Cup on 13 different tracks, after never before finishing first on Lake Placid’s ice. But she was the best Saturday, building up enough of a lead in her first run that even some minor trouble in her second trip down the track wasn’t enough to keep her from the victory.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d achieve this record victory in Lake Placid, of all places,” Huefner said. “It’s unreal.”
She threw both fists in the air when she crossed the finish line, then hugged a stream of coaches and teammates who came over to offer their congratulations.
Lake Placid has never been her favorite track, evidenced by the 2007-08 season when Huefner won every World Cup race except the one at Mount Van Hoevenberg.