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Peterson misses making U.S. team
By Joe Bauman
Deseret News staff writer
Lyndsie Peterson's time in skeleton team trials at Bear Hollow and Lake Placid, N.Y., this fall should have qualified her for the official U.S. national team so she could compete in America's Cup races — but she was bumped.
After the six races, the Taylorsville youth seemed to qualify for one of the spots in the national team.
Robie Vaughn, program director for skeleton with the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, explained what happened next. The national team consists of 14 men and 11 women. The top four men and top three women are on the prestigious World Cup team, while the others are on the national team, able to compete in America's Cup or Europa Cup races.
Assignment to the teams is usually based on results from qualifying races, and Lyndsie came in 11th.
However, he noted, Park City's Tricia Stumpf, had a torn hamstring and was unable to compete in the qualifying races. Because of her high ranking in the past — Vaughn called her "our No. 1 slider" — Stumpf was placed on the team.
"There are provisions to allow her to basically miss that (qualifying competition) and still be assigned to the World Cup team," he said.
"Once we designate Tricia Stumpf to the World Cup team, it moves everyone down one. So it basically bumps Lyndsie off," he said.
Still, the 16-year-old gets to keep a national team parka and she will represent the United States in the Europa Cup races, he said.
E-MAIL: bau@desnews.com
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December 6, 2001
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