Norton Junior National Championships and Masters National Championships conclude race season
Share:
by Gordy Sheer
Lake Placid, N.Y. – The top athletes age 20 and under raced for the last time in the 2025-26 season on March 14-15 at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg luge track during the Norton Junior National Championships. Meanwhile, the top Masters competitors went for the Norton title in their respective disciplines in Park City, Utah.
Logan Barnes (Clarkesville, Tenn.) won the Junior men’s title with a four-run combined time of two minutes, 59.270 seconds. Caleb Dusek (New London, Wisc.) was second in 3;02.791 and Chris Brand (Downers Grove, Ill.) was third in 3:03.731. Both Dusek and Brand won medals in last weekend’s Youth A (to age 18) National Championships.
Ellie Kleinheinz (Santa Clara, Calif) won her second Norton Junior title in 3:01.552, with Brianna Gosnell (Evansburg, Pa.) second in 3:01.754. Kendal Achen (Manheim, Pa.), last weekend’s Youth A champion, was third in 3:03.854.
The open doubles race was won by Nate Bivins (Castleton, N.Y.) and Wolfgang Lux (Swanton, Vt.) with a two-run combined time of 1:28.486. Sadie Martin (Vermontville, N.Y.) and Gosnell were second in 1:29.646. Gabe Desautels (Georgia, Vt.) and Gavin Davis (Berwick, Pa.) were third in 1:30.885.
The Master’s race focuses on recreational-level sliding for those over age 30. Kara Potter was the winner in 1:31.754. Elizabeth Murphy was second in1:32.763 and Chloe Wessel was third in 1:50.661.
Austin Carter won the men’s division in 1:30.285. Kamron Jensen was second in 1:30.415 and Peter Crowley was third in 1:33.412.
The Senior Masters (age category deliberately undisclosed) was won by Jim Murphy, followed by Bruce Norman with times of 1:28.054 and 1:28.482, respectively. John Armstrong was third in 1:30.971.
Potter, Wessel, Crowley, Norman and Armstrong are all graduates of the USA Luge Fantasy Camp. The next camp is scheduled to take place later this month.
While the track in Park City is closed for the season, Lake Placid will continue to host training for the National Youth B team, screening camps for future talent and the Fantasy Camps.
