“Although we didn’t get a medal in the men’s [race], we did awesome as a team,” U.S. skeleton team head coach Orvie Garrett said. “I think far and above, we have the best team going. It’s a good field and it could be any guy on any given day.”

The end of the first run saw the United States with athletes in the sixth, seventh and eighth positions. Lund was sixth after his first run of 57.22 and on his second run, he slid a time of 57.15 to finish with a combined time of 1:54.37. By placing in the top six, Lund’s fifth-place finish for the men—added to the women’s three top-six results earlier today—gave the United States a total of four podium finishes at the Calgary World Cup.

“It was kind of a hard day,” Lund said. “I wasn’t really into it, both mentally and physically. It wasn’t like it was last year. I didn’t race too badly, but I didn’t race too great, either. As far as my finish, I guess after what I’ve gone through, I’m happy. But it’s not where I know it should be.”

In a tie for 15th with three other sliders after the first run with a time of 57.63, Hedquist had a great second slide and improved by 0.77 seconds to jump to seventh in the overall results. His big second run of 56.86 was the fifth-fastest time of the day. Hedquist finished with a total time of 1:54.49 in just his second World Cup race.

Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, N.Y.) dropped from seventh after the first run to place ninth in a time of 1:54.74. His runs of 57.38 and 57.36 earned Smith the second top-10 World Cup finish of his career.

In 11th for the United States was Eric Bernotas (Avondale, Pa.), whose runs of 57.40 and 57.45 combined for a total time of 1:54.85. Bernotas fought through sickness to complete a great start to the season for the United States.

“We truly appreciate all the support from the Federation and the U.S. Olympic Committe,“ Garrett said.

2006 Olympic silver medalist Jeff Pain of Canada won the race on his home track with a time of 1:53.31 (56.91, 56.40). Russian Alexander Tretiakov slid to a time of 1:53.57 (57.10, 56.47) that was 0.26 seconds slower than Pain. Canadians Jon Montgomery and Paul Boehm finished third and fourth, respectively, with Montgomery clocking a time of 1:53.79 (57.05, 56.74) and Boehm recording a total of 1:53.81 (56.98, 56.83).

Rounding out the top-six podium finishers was Great Britain’s Adam Pengilly in sixth in a time of 1:54.38 (57.19, 57.19). 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Gregor Staehli of Switzerland claimed 15th place. A total of 33 men’s sliders finished the race.

The Calgary World Cup skeleton race will be televised nationally on SPEED Channel on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. EST. For complete results of today’s race, visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT). The next World Cup skeleton race will be held Dec. 7 in Park City, Utah. Media interested in attending the Park City World Cup can contact Utah Olympic Park’s Jennifer Nichols at (435) 658-4247 or jennifer.nichols@olyparks.com.

The Calgary World Cup continues on Friday with the men’s two-man and women’s bobsled races beginning at 2:30 p.m. MST and 6:30 p.m., respectively. Closing the Calgary World Cup is the men’s four-man bobsled race on Saturday at 4 p.m. All listed times are Mountain Standard Time. For live, in-race results, visit the FIBT Web site at www.bobsleigh.com.

RESULTS:
1. Pain (Canada), 1:53.31 (56.91, 56.40); 2. Tretiakov (Russia), 1:53.57 (57.10, 56.47); 3. Montgomery (Canada), 1:53.79 (57.05, 56.74); 4. Boehm (Canada), 1:53.81 (56.98, 56.83); 5. Lund (USA), 1:54.37 (57.22, 57.15); 6. Pengilly (Great Britain), 1:54.38 (57.19, 57.19); 7. Hedquist (USA), 1:54.49 (57.63, 56.86); … 9. Smith (USA), 1:54.74 (57.38, 57.36); … 11. Bernotas (USA), 1:54.85 (57.40, 57.45).