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U.S. gets first-ever luge singles medal

February 11, 2014

Erin Hamlin of New York earns bronze in Sochi Olympics

La Canada’s Kate Hansen 10th, Korea’s Sung Eunryung 29th

Kate Hansen of La Canada reacts after her final run during the women’s singles luge competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

(CNS) La Canada Flintridge resident Kate Hansen finished 10th today in the women’s singles luge at the XXII Winter Olympics.

The 21-year-old Hansen, who attends Brigham Young University, entered today’s final two runs on the Sanki Sliding Center track in Rzhanaya Polyana, Russia in 10th place. She had the 13th-fastest time on her first run, 50.793 seconds, and the sixth-fastest time on her second run, 50.499 seconds, which was the best of her four runs at her first Olympics.

Hansen’s total time of three minutes, 22.667 seconds was 2.899 seconds behind gold medalist Natalie Geisenberger of Germany and .501 of a second behind the ninth-place finisher, Martina Kocher of Switzerland. Another German, Tatjana Huefner, finished second, 1.139 seconds behind Geisenberger, with Erin Hamlin of Remsen, N.Y., finishing third, 1.377 seconds off the lead, but becoming the first U.S. woman to win a medal in luge.

Hamlin’s medal was also the first for the U.S. in luge singles, either men’s or women’s. The U.S. had previously won four medals in men’s doubles, two silver and two bronze.

Korea’s Sung Eun-ryung finished 29th out of 31 contestants. Her final run was clocked at 52.124 seconds, and the total time of three minutes and 28.743 seconds.

Sung Eunryung of S. Korea cheers after her final run during the women's singles luge competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Sung Eunryung of S. Korea cheers after her final run during the women’s singles luge competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)