Aitken completed the first run in 49.44 seconds, sixth best of the heat, before climbing two positions into fourth with a second run time of 48.87 seconds. Aitken finished with a combined time of 1:38.31, two-tenths of a second from the medals, repeating his fourth place finish at the Europa Cup competition held in Koenigssee on Nov. 30.

Antoine followed his fourth place finish last week on the difficult 2006 Olympic track in Cesana, Italy with a sixth place finish on Sunday. Antoine slid times of 49.54 and 49.04, stopping the clock in 1:38.58.

“I’m extremely pleased to have finished sixth in this difficult track,” Antoine said. “This was a difficult week of training with very inconsistent weather and track conditions. It was tough to learn the track, and I was having a rough go at it during training.”

German Sebastian Haupt, a 2006 Olympian, dominated the competition, finishing eight-tenths of a second ahead of teammate Sandro Stielicke for the gold. Haupt stopped the clock in 1:37.11 after two first placed runs of 48.77 and 48.34, with Stielicke in second after runs of 49.01 and 48.90 for a total time of 1:37.91. Canadian Keith Loach slid into third place with a combined time of 1:38.11 (49.25m 48.86).

Kyle Tress (Trenton, N.J.) once again proved his speed and strength in the first 50-meters, pushing a 4.79 and 4.77 second start in the two-heat race. Tress slid runs of 49.70 and 49.85 for a combined time of 1:39.55, putting him in 13th place.

Tomlinson, who made the national team in 2004 and has been steadily climbing in international rank, had a strong showing on Sunday, finishing sixth with a total time of 1:42.02 after two consistent runs of 51.00 and 51.02.

Germany’s Monique Riekewald, who won a 2007 World Championship gold medal in the team competition, took the gold with a two-heat time of 1:39.95 after runs of 49.97 and 49.98 seconds. Two-time Olympian Lindsay Alcock won silver for Canada after finishing with a total time of 1:40.68 (50.21, 50.47), with Germany’s Julia Eichhorn in third for the bronze with a combined time of 1:40.86 (50.33, 50.53).

Cassie Revelli (Highland, Utah) finished in 13th after runs of 52.00 and 51.78 for a combined time of 1:43.78.

The next Intercontinetal Cup competition will take place on Dec. 15 in Winterberg, Germany before the teams break for the holiday.

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

Results:
Men’s Skeleton:
1. Sebastian Haput (GER) 1:37.11 (48.77, 48.34); 2. Sandro Stielicke (GER) 1:37.91 (49.01, 48.90); 3. Keith Loach (CAN) 1:38.11 (49.25, 48.86); 4. Stokes Aitken (USA) 1:38.31 (49.44, 48.87);…6. Matt Antoine (USA) 1:38.58 (49.54, 49.04);…13. Kyle Tress (USA) 1:39.55 (49.70, 49.85);

Women’s Skeleton:
1. Monique Riekewald (GER) 1:39.95 (49.97, 49.98); 2. Lindsay Alcock (CAN) 1:40.68 (50.21, 50.47); 3. Julia Eichhorn (GER) 1:40.86 (50.33, 50.53);…6. Keslie Tomlinson (USA) 1:42.02 (51.00, 51.02);…13. Cassie Revelli (USA) 1:43.78 (52.00, 51.78);

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: Allianz Life, Columbia Sportswear Company, CW-X, KBC Helmets, Racing Electronics, Schenker Logistics, Speedo and Whelen Engineering. For more information, please visit the USBSF Web site at www.usbsf.com.