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(December 22, 2001) USA Women’s Bobsled Lineup Upset in Olympic Trials WASHINGTON DC (December 22, 2001) Pilot Jill Bakken, who
scrapped up top-ranked brakeman Vonetta Flowers just days ago, pulled into 2nd
place in Race 1 of the US Women’s Bobsled Olympic Trials in Park City, Utah,
on Friday. Bakken and Flowers, turned bobsled heads when they nearly
clipped the current USA leading team, Jean Racine and Gea Johnson, in the
first heat and went on to turn out the best combined start times in the race
at 5.37 and 5.39 respectively. Throughout the season’s World Cup Race, Bakken ranked third
behind Racine and veteran driver Bonnie Warner, but made a strategic move just
days ago picking up Flowers who could give her a performance edge with a
stronger push. After two heats, Bakken’s combined time of 1:39.56, only
.35 behind Racine at 1:39:21, is close to securing a place on the US Women’s
Olympic Bobsled Team. Warner dropped to a chilly third at 1:40.36. The Olympic Trial Race determines which of the three leading
US women drivers will secure the two spots on the Olympic Team. The final and
deciding two heats take place on Saturday, December 22. Bakken is known to be comfortable on the Park City track
where she was victorious in the pre-season push trials and earned the USA1
title. “She’s always been comfortable and strong in Park City,” says one
of her sponsors, Lois Hollan, of Washington, DC. “There’s only one race
that counts this year—and this is it. This new team could go all the way,”
adds Hollan. For further information on Jill Bakken and the US Women’s
Bobsled season, visit http://www.steelandice.com. [Source: Lois Hollan, Lhollan@kreative.net,
202 333-4568, c.202 413-0739]
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