WinterSports2002.com - Utah connections

WinterSports2002.com, Wednesday, October 31, 2001

Utah connections

Utahns practically own skeleton racing, with hometown heroes collecting medals around the world.

Lincoln DeWitt, a Park City computer programmer, won the 2000-01 World Cup title, finishing the worldwide series of races with amazing runs at the Utah Olympic Park in Bear Hollow. Along the way to the overall gold, he also collected gold, silver and bronze medals in individual races.

Tricia Stumpf, Park City, is the country's top woman skeleton racer. For example, in January, she took the gold at Bear Hollow during the U.S. Skeleton Championships.

But the next month, she was only fifth in her latest on-ice race, a 2001 World Cup skeleton competition at the same track. But that was impressive in light of a back injury suffered when she lifted her bag just prior to the race.

Stumpf was back at the top by the summer. She won the women's division of the U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation push championships on July 24, held in Calgary, Canada.

DeWitt and Stumpf have set track records for Bear Hollow.

Utahns on the America's Cup circuit included Tristan Gale, Salt Lake City; Trevor Christie, Park City; and Babs Isak, Park City. In January, Stumpf broke a Bear Hollow track record that had been set by Gale.

Zach Lund, Salt Lake City, was one of the Utahns competing in Nagano, Japan, in February during World Cup races. Among Utahns who were on the U.S. women's national team was Janet Ivers, Park City. Named to the America's Cup team last October were Chad Omweg and Ryan Geertsen, both of Salt Lake City.

Colleen Rush, Park City, won the silver medal at the U.S. Skeleton Championships. In July she placed third in the push championships in Calgary.

Brady Canfield, Kaysville, finished second during the U.S. Skeleton Championships. He also coaches the American Samoa skeleton team, of which his wife, Felicia, is a member.

Felicia Canfield, a University of Utah law student from Kaysville, was outstanding in her efforts for American Samoa, winning two bronze medals in Challenge Cup races in Calgary this past winter.