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Associated Press 20y

Racine fastest American, finishes fifth

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Susi Erdmann beat teammate Sandra
Prokoff and led Germany to a sweep of women's World Cup bobsled
races Sunday.

Erdmann, with brakeman Kristina Bader, had times of 58.54 and
58.75 seconds -- the two fastest runs on the day -- for a total time of
1:57.29.

With brakeman Janine Tischer, Prokoff, competing with an ankle
injury she sustained during a Saturday warm-up session, had a total
time of 1:57.77. Cathleen Martini teamed with brakeman Berit
Wiacker for third place in 1:57.86.

The top American was Jean Racine of Waterford, Mich., placing
fifth in 1:57.93 with 2002 Olympic gold medal winner Vonetta
Flowers of Atlanta on the brakes.

Germany has swept three of the four World Cup tour competitions.
Prokoff is atop the overall World Cup standings after three
victories and a second place. Erdmann is second with one win and
three seconds.

Erdmann, 35, won the 2002 Olympic bronze, a world title and two
World Cup overall crowns after converting to bobsled from luge in
2000. The 6-foot-2 athlete was a two-time Olympic medalist and
three-time world champion in luge.

"My problem is that I'm a little older than the rest of the
girls," Erdmann said. "I started later and have to develop my
legs. But I have been on the ice since I was 9 years old. So it's
my instinct to know what to do at each part of the course."

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