Maya Chan and Reannyn Weiler. Photo Dietmar Reker
WINTERBERG, Germany - The junior women’s doubles team of Maya Chan and Reannyn Weiler placed fifth at the Junior Luge World Championships, capping off a season of strong and consistent performances.
The duo were sitting in fourth place after the first heat but dropped back a spot after encountering issues during their second run. Chan, of Chicago, Ill. and Weiler, of Whitesboro, N.Y., will be back for the first-ever women’s doubles World Championship, slated to take place on Sunday. Chan and Weiler have been competing in both senior-level and junior-level events. They have been podium regulars in both divisions. The tandem also competed in the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, finishing fourth.
In the Junior men’s doubles race, Marcus Mueller of Brookfield. Wis. and Ansel Haugsjaa of Framingham, Mass. placed sixth, while Aidan Mueller of West Islip, N.Y. and Frank Ike of Lititz, Pa. were 14th. The Junior World Championships marked the first time the four athletes raced up a category as Juniors this season. The 2021-22 Youth A Men’s Doubles World Cup title was won by Mueller/Haugsjaa, with Mueller/Ike ranked fourth.
The Junior women’s competition saw Elena Morrison of Muskegon, Mich. place 16th. Sophia Gordon of Sussex, Wis. placed 20th, competing up from the Youth A division. Emma Erickson of Park City, Utah was 26th.
In the team competition, the United States squad, featuring Morrison, yesterday’s men’s bronze medalist Matt Greiner of Park City, and the duo of Mueller/Haugsjaa, finished in sixth place.
Tomorrow’s historic Women’s Doubles World Championship hopes to serve as the first official step on a road that will ultimately lead to the event being added to the 2026 Olympic schedule. It is also the final international luge event before the 2022 Olympic Winter Games kick off next week.