By: Baneet Bains, Syracuse M.S Public Relations
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The historic, scenic Mt Van Hoevenberg Sliding Center, in Lake Placid, welcomed seasoned and fresh competitors to its facility during Saturday’s, Feb. 1, Empire State Winter Games junior bobsled and skeleton races.
Elliot McLean of Saranac Lake, N.Y. and Carly Coates of Potsdam, N.Y. blew away the junior bobsled field, winning the eight-sled race in a time of 1 minute, 40.96 seconds.
That two-heat time was more than two seconds faster than the second-place team of Wyatt Lamarche and John Mitchell, both of Canton, N.Y., who finished in 1:42.33.
“Last year we got fourth so this year I am excited that we got on the podium,” said Lamarche of his second-place result.
The Rockaway, N.J. pair of Luke Snyder and Evan Nilsen took the bronze medals clocking in at 1:42.89.
“The Bobsled is like a roller-coaster on ice!” said Nilsen, who picked up the sport to join his best friend Snyder.
Anni Knox won the para bobsled title, finishing in 1:38.36.
Following the bobsled, several athletes circled back to the start area to compete in skeleton. Coates and McLean tied for first, while Snyder slipped into the silver medal spot and Calvin Fitzpatrick of Riley Township, Mich. was third.
Steve Carmen won the gold medal in the para skeleton.