Roswell's Raychel Germaine to Compete for a Shot in Luge Championships

Roswell's own Raychel Germaine will compete in a race-off today, Jan. 9, to sled at the Junior World Championships on the site of the 2002 Winter Olympic luge competitions in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, Jan. 15-16.

At the championships, young luge athletes from around the world, up to age 20, will race on the 1,300 meter track. International training began Jan. 4 and concludes Jan. 9 at which time the American contingent will race-off for two singles slots in both the men’s and women’s events.

Ladies competitors in the race-off on Wednesday, Jan. 9, will include Germaine, Theresa Buckley, of Allentown, Pa. and Sami Carone, also of Park City. Germaine raced in the 2012 Youth Olympic Games singles event. With the same race-off format, two women’s sleds will also advance to next week’s championships.

During the championships, the United States will enter four in each singles discipline. The race-off format will allow each athlete to take three runs, with the total of the two fastest heats determining their final times.

The championship event’s Opening Ceremonies will take place on Main Street in Park City on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 10 p.m. EST. Watch the race-off action live Wednesday, Jan. 9, beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST online. USA Luge will also provide live race coverage Jan. 15-16 at online.