LILLEHAMMER, Norway – Marcus Mueller/Ansel Haugsjaa won their first Junior World Championship title today, defeating the doubles teams from Italy and Latvia. This was the first Junior World Championship for a United States sled since Emily Sweeney won the title in 2013.

Mueller (Brookfield, Wisc.)/Haugsjaa (Framingham, Mass.) have been podium regulars for the past two seasons, with top three finishes in every race, including a 2023 World Championship bronze. This season, the duo won two of the four Junior-level races they entered and finished second in the other races. The pair did not enter in the other two Junior races this season, as they were racing with the National Team in World Cup and World Championship events.

“It feels great,” said Mueller when asked about the victory. “I'm super happy with the results of today. And I'm just glad that [we] got first finally.”

“It feels amazing,” agreed Haugsjaa. “[This is] something we've been working hard for [and] for a really long time, especially this season. So [this is] huge accomplishment for us.”

In a close race, Mueller/Haugsjaa took the victory on the 1994 Olympic track with a time of one minute, 43.891 seconds, a mere .068 over the Italian Youth Olympic Gold medal winning duo of Phillip Brunner/Manuel Weissensteiner, who crossed the finish line in 1:43.959. The bronze medal went to Latvia’s Maimonds Baltgalvis and Vitalijs Jergorvis in 1:44.222.

Logan Barnes (Milwaukee, Wisc.) and Gavin Davis (Berwick, Pa.) finished 11^th in 1:47.399.

In the women’s competition, Emma Erickson (Park City, Utah) was the top ranked U.S. sled in 12^th place with a time of 1:36.122. Sophia Gordon (Sussex, Wisc.) was 16^th in 1:36.391, while Macey Schomaker (Park City, Utah) was 22^nd in 1:38.748. Brianna Gosnell (Evansburg, Pa.) did not finish the race.

Racing resumes with the men’s singles competition and team event tomorrow.

MARCUS MUELLER AND ANSEL HAUGSJAA WIN JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2024 Junior World Championships Day One

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