Switzerland's Hefti, Lamparter claim bobsled title

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- Switzerland's Beat Hefti and Thomas Lamparter won the two-man event and the World Cup bobsled title Friday in the season finale at Calgary Olympic Park.

Hefti and Lamparter edged Germany's Manual Machata and Andreas Bredau by 0.01 seconds.

"It was very close. You can't get closer in bobsled," Lamparter said. "We're very happy to win both the race and the World Cup."

Germany's Maximilian Arndt and Kevin Kuske were third, 0.26 seconds back, and finished second in the season standings.

In the women's event, Canada's Kaillie Humphries and Jennifer Ciochetti won their first race together.

"We're both fierce competitors and both talented athletes, so as long as we do our jobs and work together, which we did today, we knew it could be successful," Humphries said.

Humphries won last week with Emily Baadsvik in Whistler, British Columbia, on the track where the Calgary pilot won the Olympic gold medal two year ago.

Germany's Anja Schneiderheinze and Lisette Thoene were second, followed by teammates Sandra Kiriasis and Petra Lammert.

Cathleen Martini and Janine Tisher were fifth, and won the world title.

In the men's race, Cory Butner of Yucaipa, Calif., teamed with Chuck Berkeley of Walnut Creek, Calif., to finish 13th.

"Every race is still a learning experience," Butner said. "I actually expected to do better today, but I made some mistakes that were too costly."

Nick Cunningham of Monterey, Calif., and Dallas Robinson of Georgetown, Ky., were 15th.

In the women's race, Bree Schaaf of Bremerton, Wash., and Emily Azevedo of Chico, Calif., finished seventh.

"This season has really tested my love for the sport with so many ups and downs," Schaaf said. "It's been a year of learning and I've been honing in on my driving skills. I find myself finally commanding the sled and driving it to where I want in the corners."

Jamie Greubel of Newtown, Pa., and Ida Bernstein of Cockeysville, Md., finished 12th, and Megan Hill of Woodstock, Ga., and Nicole Vogt of Dallas were 16th.

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