BEAR HOLLOW — He was only an inch, maybe two at the most, off a perfect line, but it was enough to end Tony Benshoff's hopes for a medal in the Luge World Championships.
As it was, America's best luger finish seventh in the men's finals on Saturday.
Armin Zoggeler of Italy, who dominated this track during the 2002 Olympics, walking off with the gold and bragging rights, was once again the winner.
And, as happened in the Games, Georg Hackl of Germany won the silver.
The event drew 41 of the world's best lugers to the Utah Olympic Park track for the men's singles event.
Interestingly enough, Zoggeler was expected to do well, but was by no means considered the top candidate for the gold. He has struggled this season.
As he said after the race, speaking through and interpreter, "A lot of ups and downs all season, but today was perfect day for me."
And he was as close to perfect as was possible. He posted the fastest times on both his runs.
The track was a little soft for the mid-afternoon runs. The chilly evening temperatures firmed up the track and, as one luger said, "Made it a lot faster."
The U.S. lugers were not expected to do particularly well in this event. Benshoff was its top candidate for a medal. And, he was in position after the first run to occupy one of the steps on the podium. His run of 45.388 seconds was enough to place him in 3rd behind Zoggeler and Albert Demtschenko of Russia.
Klim Gatker, an assistant U.S. Team coach, warned that with the faster ice, "The top 15 are going to have a tough time getting down with a clean run."
He also noted that while he was happy with Benshoff's run, there was not much else to brag about. John Myles was the next best finisher in 17th and Christian Niccum, who also competes in doubles, was 20th.
Gatker also admitted that it was not so much that the U.S. Team made mistakes as much as it was that a lot of very good junior racers are moving up to challenge the veterans.
On his second run, Benshoff had a good start, but slid up in Turn 3 and hit the wall.
"That was it," he said. "There's a margin of error for that turn of about an inch or two. I was right on the envelope and I thought I could make it, but I was too high in the middle of the curve and hit the right wall.
"This is my home track and I should be able to do it. Today, I went for it and it just didn't happen."
Benshoff was not the only slider who had trouble. Demtschenko found himself in much deeper trouble in Turn 6. He slid off the sled and almost skidded to a stop before he was able to get back on and finish. He fell from No. 2 to finish No. 37 of 41 entries.
Zoggeler's two-run time was 1 minute, 30.617 seconds; Hackl, who was 5th after the first run, clocked a 1:30.770; and David Moller, also from Germany, finished in third with a time of 1:30.784. Benshoff's time was 1:31.110.
The event started on Friday with the doubles and women's singles. It will conclude today with the team event. In this event, each country will put its best men's doubles, women's singles and men's singles on the track and go for the best overall time. Competition begins at 2 p.m.
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