Lake Placid to Host 2014 U.S. National Skeleton Push Championships

Over 20 athletes are scheduled to compete for the 2014 U.S. National Skeleton Push Championship title on the wheeled start track at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. at 10 a.m. this Saturday.

"U.S. National Skeleton Push Championships is one of the key events for the program's athletes and coaches," said U.S. Head Coach Tuffy Latour. "The coaching staff has pushed to hold three key events each season that help measure how athletes stack up amongst themselves.  Push Championships along with National Championships and National Team Trails help to evaluate athletes in head to head competition.  The push portion of a race is important for all skeleton athletes and this competition gives athletes a chance to measure their off-season training."

Reigning women's push champion Gracie Clapp-Taylor (Saint Johns, Fla.) will be up against tough competition for the 2014 title with proven fast starters Annie O'Shea (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.), Savannah Graybill (Denver, Pa.) and Veronica Day (Vienna, Va.) entered into this weekend's competition. There will be a fierce battle between veterans and rookies for this season's men's title since 2013 winner Tom Santagato (Astoria, N.Y.) has retired and will not be competing. Olympian Kyle Tress (Ewing, N.J.) is expected to be in the mix, but Latour anticipates up and coming athletes Mike Rogals (Orwell, Vt.), Kyle Brown (Concord, N.H.), Kevin McGlade (Stafford, Va.), Jake Miter (Cropseyville, N.Y.) and Alex Ivanov (Calisle, Mass.) to also be contenders for the title.

"This year's competition is shaping up to be another great event with a good mixture of returning and new athletes," Latour said. "The event will see its second year at the new Lake Placid push track. The push track at the U.S. Olympic Training Center has been a very valuable training site for the team.  This year marks the start of a new quadrennial and the kick-off towards the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.  As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to this event and the future of USA Skeleton."

About the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation: The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. The USBSF would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support: BMW of North America, Century 21 Real Estate, Under Armour, Kampgrounds of America, CEVA Logistics, Eastern European Distribution Company, Boomerang Carnets, Latta Kefir, 24 Hour Fitness, Azad Watches, Park City Lodging, Inc., Ludus Tours, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Autism Speaks, EDAS/Ripxx, Tesa Tape, UberSense and Ferris Mfg. Corp. For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org.