“This whole season has been building, and I’m feeling more and more confident as I carry momentum into each race,” Bernotas said.  “The silver today was just another boost.  I did what I had to do.”

For Lund, this race was about more than a title, but an opportunity to prove himself.  Lund was informed of the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling to suspend him for one year for the banned substance finasteride, a masking agent found in his hair-restoration medication, as he was walking to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy.  Lund was the World Cup leader before his suspension.

“It feels great to have placed third today,” Lund said.  “I feel no different than I did last year, when I was first overall.  I could have medalled at the Olympics in Torino, so it’s nice to come out this year and prove that this is for real, and it wasn’t just a fluke.”

Staehli’s streak of first-place runs ended with the third fastest time in the third heat of 1:08.91.  Taking advantage of his opportunity to surpass Staehli, Bernotas smashed the track record with a 1:08.79. 

Moments later, Austria’s Markus Penz was eager to climb from sixth position, breaking Bernotas’ record by only two one-hundredths of a second with a time of 1:08.76, moving him into fourth.  Lund had the fourth best time in the third heat with a 1:09.02.

The fourth and final heat of the race was equally as exciting.  Staehli was eager to reclaim the World title he’d won thirteen years ago, obliterating the track record set just minutes earlier by both Bernotas and Penz with a time of 1:08.20, solidifying his victory. 

Bernotas had a push time of 5.25 and a final run of 1:09.28 after his sled popped out of the start grooves during his push.

“I have been around these sports for ten years now and I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone keep their composure as well as Eric did on his fourth heat,” U.S. skeleton assistant coach Greg Sand said.  “Eric blew the groove on his forth heat, and fought to keep his sled straight. You could see the determination in his eyes, and he had a beautiful trip the rest of the way down.  Unbelievable.”

Bernotas still managed to have the sixth best time of the heat, claiming the silver with a combined time of 4:37.84.

“Staehli was a half second ahead of me, and I knew that I needed to just go for it,” Bernotas said.  “The fans here are awesome, and I was ready to go, but then I popped the groove in the second run.  I was fortunate to have maintained my standing.”

Lund finished with a combined time of 4:37.97 after a run of 1:09.02, identical to his third heat, to take the bronze. 

“My big goal for this year has been the overall World Cup title, and the World Cup race in Torino,” Lund said.  “This race honestly wasn’t my main focus, but I am so happy about the result.”

Penz finished in fourth with a total time of 4:38.16 and a fourth heat run of 1:08.77.  Russia’s Alexander Tretiakov had the third fastest time of the heat with a 1:08.86 after tying his push record of 4.82 that he set in the race yesterday, placing him in fifth.

Caleb Smith (Lake Placid, N.Y.) placed twelfth, just two-tenths of a second from a top ten finish, with a combined time of 4:40.63 after runs of 1:10.25 and 1:09.31 today.

Placing twentieth was Chris Hedquist (Salt Lake City, Utah) with runs of 1:10.15 and 1:09.87 for a total of 4:41.46.

Between the men and women, the U.S. claimed four of the six medals in the skeleton World Championships.  The other two medals, a gold and silver, went to Switzerland’s home track competitors, Staehli and Maya Pederson, respectively.

The World Championship race in St. Moritz will be broadcast on SPEED Channel this Sunday, Jan. 28 from 12-2 p.m.  Women’s and men’s skeleton races will be televised from 12-1 p.m, while the two-man bobsled competition will air from 1-2 p.m.  All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

For complete results of the race, please visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT).

Results:

1. Gregor Staehli (SUI) 4:36.26 (1.09.59, 1:09.56, 1:08.91, 1:08.20); 2. Eric Bernotas (USA) 4:37.97 (1:09.75, 1:10.02, 1:08.79, 1:09.28); 3. Zach Lund (USA) 4:37.97 (1:09.94, 1:09.99, 1:09.02, 1:09.02); 4. Markus Penz (AUT) 4:38.16 (1:10.35, 1:10.28, 1:08.76, 1:08.77); 5. Alexander Tretiakov (RUS) 4:39.38 (1:10.14, 1:10.60, 1:09.78, 1:08.86); 6. Martins Dukers (LAT) 4:39.61 (1:10.61, 1:09.79, 1:09.56, 1:09.65);…12. Caleb Smith (USA) 4:40.63 (1:10.26, 1:10.81, 1:10.25, 1:09.31);…20. Chris Hedquist (USA) 4:41.46 (1:10.67, 1:10.77, 1:10.15, 1:09.87);