Glen Rock's Summer Britcher successfully defends her USA Luge start championship

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Olympic veterans Tucker West and Summer Britcher successfully defended their USA Luge start championships Sunday.

West won the men's title at the season-opening event contested on the ramp at USA Luge's indoor facility for the seventh time, and Britcher took the women's crown for the third consecutive year.

West's combined time in the men's race was 5.472 seconds. Jonny Gustafson was second and 2018 Olympic silver medalist Chris Mazdzer was third.

Britcher's winning time was 5.961 seconds. Brittney Arndt took second and Ashley Farquharson was third. Britcher is from Glen Rock and a Susquehannock High School graduate.

The national team is scheduled to begin on-ice training for the coming season on Oct. 1 in Lillehammer, Norway. Weather permitting, they could be back in Lake Placid, New York to train at home in mid-October.