L-R: Elana Meyers with Erin Pac (Photo: Courtesy of Charlie Booker & USBSF)
There certainly is something to be said for consistency, and in this blog series we have been focused on a very exciting drama that has been unfolding with the approaching Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our USA Women's Bobsled Team has succeeded in qualifying three sleds! This is an unprecedented achievement that history books will record. At a time when world events often seem to interrupt any semblance of Joy or Hope, our American Olympic Bobsled athletes on both the Men's and Women's Teams have astounded us with their discipline, dedication and relentless focus to become the best in the world. In effect, they serve as an inspiration to each of us to actualize our own dreams. If ever there was meaning to the term "living in the moment", these final days of training leading up to the Olympic Games must be very exciting for our Team USA Bobsled. They have traveled the globe and navigated race tracks bearing tremendous difficulty and danger with skill and confidence. In recent posts, we have taken a look at the Men's team led by driver Steven Holcomb. On the Women's Team, we have featured the USA number 3 bobsled driver Bree Schaaf and brakewoman Emily Azevedo. I felt it only appropriate to create a seamless thread in presenting today USA number 2 bobsled driver Erin Pac (Farmington, Connecticut) and brakewoman Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Georgia).
- ERIN PAC
Beginning in the summer of 2002, Pac's track coach at Springfield College, Jim Pennington, encouraged her to try out for the USA Woman's Bobsled Team. After traveling with her parents to Northeastern University in Boston, she was tested in the 30 and 60 meter sprints, shot toss, vertical jump, and 5 hops for distance. Her test results led to an invitation to Lake Placid, New York to push a bobsled on wheels and from that point forward she was selected to compete on the national team. After earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Rehabilitation and Disabilities Studies with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling from Springfield College, Pac began traveling the world as a brakewoman pushing for drivers Jill Bakken, Shauna Rohbock, and Sara Sprung. By 2005, Erin Pac was recognized along with the U.S. Women's Bobsled Team as the United States Olympic Committee "Team of the Month." At the conclusion of the 2005-2006 season, Pac traveled to Igls, Austria to attend bobsled driving school and made her driving debut one year later during the 2006-2007 season. Pac finished 8th at the World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland. During the 2008-2009 season, she finished with a world ranking of 7th and 2nd in the USA. At the inaugural World Cup race in Whistler, Canada Erin Pac earned the Bronze medal placing 6th at the 2009 World Cup Championships in Lake Placid. She will piloting the USA 2 bobsled in the Olympics.
FAST FACTS ABOUT ERIN:
6th overall in 2009-2010 World Cup-BRONZE in Park City (Nov., 2009), 7th in Lake Placid (Nov., 2009), 5th in Cesana (Dec., 2009), BRONZE in Winterberg (Dec., 2009), 6th in Altenberg (Dec., 2009), 5th in Konigssee (Jan., 2010), 13th in St. Moritz (Jan., 2010, 4th in Igls (Jan., 2010)
9th overall in 2008-2009 World Cup-4th in Winterberg (Nov., 2008), 10th in Altenberg (Dec., 2008), 4th in Igls (Dec., 2008), 6th in Konigssee (Jan., 2009), 9th in St. Moritz WC #1 (Jan, 2009), 4th in St. Moritz #2 (Jan., 2009), BRONZE in Whistler (Feb., 2009)
7th overall in 2008-2009 America's Cup-SILVER in Park City #1 (Oct., 2008), SILVER in Park City #2 (Oct. 2008)
2008 Driver-Push Champion-11th overall in 2007-08 World Cup as driver-8th in Calgary (Nov., 2007), 5th in Park City (Dec., 2007), 6th in Lake Placid (Dec., 2007), 14th in Cesana (Jan., 2008), 9th in St. Mortiz (Jan., 2008), 17th in Konigssee (Feb., 2008), 7th in Winterberg (Feb., 2008)-7th at World Championships in Altenberg, Germany (Feb., 2008)
22nd overall as a driver in 2006-2007 World Cup as driver -10th at Igls -8th at World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland (Feb., 2007)
2nd overall 2006-07 America's Cup as driver-GOLD and SILVER in Calgary (Nov, 2006), SILVER in Lake Placid (Dec., 2006), BRONZE and SILVER in Park City (Dec., 2006)
2004-2005 World Cup as brakewoman for Shauna Rohbock and Jill Bakken-BRONZE and start record in Altenberg (Dec., 2004), 7th in Cortina (Dec., 2004), 8th in Cesana Pariol (Jan., 2005), 18th in St. Moritz (Jan., 2005)
2003-2004 World Cup as brakewoman for Shauna Rohbock and Sara Sprung-11th in Calgary (Nov., 2003), 9th in Lake Placid (Dec., 2003), 7th in Sigulda (Feb., 2004)
2002-2003 World Cup as brakewoman for Shauna Rohbock-7th in Park City (Nov., 2002), 7th in Lake Placid (Dec., 2002), 13th in Igls (Jan., 2003).
“Anything worth having is worth working hard for.” --Erin Pac
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ELANA MEYERS
Elana Meyers' rise in the sport of bobsled has been meteoric. In 2007, she earned a place on the national team in her rookie season. In 2008, she won her first World Cup medal (Bronze) with driver Shauna Rohbock. She followed this performance with a Gold medal at the inaugural World Cup in Whistler, Canada. At the 2009 World Championships, Meyer pushed with driver Shauna Rohbock to win the Silver medal at the World Cup Championships. A 2006 graduate of George Washington University in Washington D.C., Meyers earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. Her participation in softball at George Washington began in 2002 as a freshman and first recruit. She went on to play shortstop, pitcher and third baseman positions for the Colonials softball team. Meyers was later named to the ECAC Division I Softball All-Star Team in July, 2007 for leading the Colonials to their first ever Atlantic 10 Tournament appearance with a game-winning grand slam in her final home game! It's also worth noting that Meyers was the first and only player in George Washington Softball history to record 200 base hits. In addition to bobsled, Meyers also plays for the Mid-Michigan Ice, a professional softball team based in Midland, Michigan. Her involvement in Softball began in 2002, when Meyers was a freshman and the very first recruit. Meyers is pursuing a Masters degree in Sports Management at George Washington University.
- FAST FACTS ABOUT ELANA
2009-2010 World Cup as push athlete for Shauna Rohbock & Erin Pac-5th in Lake Placid (Nov., 2009), 5th in Cesana (Dec., 2009), BRONZE in Winterberg (Dec., 2009), 6th in Altenberg (Dec., 2009), 13th in St. Moritz (Jan., 2010), 4th in Igls (Jan., 2010)
2009 U.S. National Bobsled Push Champion-SILVER at 2009 World Championship in Lake Placid (Feb., 2009)
2008-2009 World Cup-BRONZE in Altenberg (Dec., 2008), 4th in Igls (Dec., 2008), 6th in St. Moritz #1 (Jan., 2009), 4th in St. Moritz #2 (Jan., 2009), GOLD at Whistler (Feb., 2009)
2007-2008 World Cup as push athlete for Erin Pac-5th in Park City (Dec., 2007), 14th in Cesana (Jan., 2008), 17th in Konigssee (Feb., 2008), 7th in Winterberg (Feb., 2008)-7th at World Championship in Altenberg, Germany (Feb., 2008).
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"I am extremely excited and know that God has choreographed this entire season and am excited for what else He has in store for me. I am extremely proud to be representing my country on the World's biggest stage, and cannot wait to race for the USA on February 23-24, 2010". --Elana Meyers
Emily Azevedo (Photo: Dave Davies, Chico Enterprise)
In the days leading up to the Winter Olympic Games, Dave Davies, Sports Editor of The Chico Enterprise Record newspaper in Chico, California was kind enough to share with me a brief interview conducted by staff sports reporters Travis Souders and Patrick Kinmartin with Team USA Bobsled push athlete, Emily Azevedo. As I'm fond of mentioning, the upcoming Olympic Winter Games will be significant because Team USA Woman's Bobsled has three sleds entered into competition! Azevedo is teamed up with driver Bree Schaaf of Bremerton, Washington for Team USA's third sled. Shauna Rohbock will drive with Michelle Rzepka, while Erin Pac will drive with Elana Meyers. This audio interview was taped on the Chico ER.com website and allows readers on my site to connect a voice with the photo and capture some of Emily's personal insights about preparations in the days leading up to the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. In a slight departure from the previous audio interview, this is a brief visit. Also, due to technical challenges you'll have to Click Hereto accessthe January 29, 2010 audio feed. It's well worth it and I hope you enjoy it.
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FASTFACTSABOUTEMILY:
2009-2010 World Cup as brakewoman for Shauna Rohbock and Bree Schaaf -9th in Park City (Nov., 2009), 9th in Lake Placid (Nov., 2009), 6th in Cesana (Dec., 2009), 13th in Altenberg (Dec., 2009), 7th in Konigssee (Jan., 2010), 11th in St. Moritz (Jan., 2010);
5th at 2009 U.S. National Bobsled Push Championship
2009 National Champion as brakewoman for Bree Schaaf
10th at 2009 World Championship with Bree Schaaf
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2008-09 World Cup as brakewoman for Bree Schaaf-6th at Whistler (Feb., 2009), 5th at Park City (Feb., 2009)
2008-09 America's Cup as brakewoman for Erin Pac; -SILVER in Park City #2 (Oct., 2008)
2007-08 World Cup as brakewoman for Erin Pac and Jamia Jackson-6th in Lake Placid (Dec., 2007), 12th in Cesana (Jan., 2008), 9th in St. Mortiz (Jan., 2008)
2006-07 World Cup as brakewoman with for Erin Pac-10th at Igls (Jan., 2007), 8th at World Championships (Feb., 2007) in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
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ACADEMICS
Graduated from the University of California-Davis in 2005 with a degree in exercise biology. While attending UC-Davis, Azevedo was a track and field athlete and and currently holds the school's number 2 record in the 100-meter hurdles. Emily's sister, Chelsea, is completing her last year at UC-Davis and also participates in track.
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ALL-TIME TOP OUTDOOR PERFORMERS - WOMEN (through 2009)
100 HURDLES
1. SIRENA WILLIAMS: 13.50 (2009)
2. Emily Azevedo: 14.23 (2005)
3. Gretchen Haussler: 14.31 (2006)
4. Celise Carroll: 14.46 (1997)
T5. CHELSEA AZEVEDO: 14.50 (2006)
T5. Julita Patil: 14.50 (1994)
7. Caroline Sheldon: 14.56 (2005)
8. ANIKIA JACKSON: 14.61 (2009)
9. Michele Dwyre: 14.74 (1989)
10. Melissa Ferguson: 14.77 (cca, 2002)
ALL-TIME TOP INDOOR PERFORMERS – WOMEN (through 2009)
Curt Tomasevicz Team USA Bobsled (Photo Courtesy of The Sports Piece.com)
Curt Tomasevicz is a push athlete of the Two-Man and Four-Man Bobsled competition in the upcoming Winter Olympics. Robert Rees, Co-Host of The Sports Piece.com in Austin, Texas was kind enough to allow me to share the audio taped interview that he and Steve Foster completed just a few days ago with Curt. I thought this would be a great way to connect a voice with the face of this amazing athlete. Curt hails from Shelby, Nebraska and began the sport of bobsled in 2004. He placed sixth in the 4-man bobsled competition with driver Steve Holcomb at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. In 2007, Tomasevicz won a World Cup gold medal with Holcomb in the 2-man bobsled competition on the same Olympic track. During the 2008-2009 season, he pushed Holcomb to silver and bronze World Cup medals in the 4-man bobsled and a gold medal at the 2009 4-man National Championships. Most recently, he won a silver medal with Holcomb at the inaugural World Cup race in Whistler, Canada, site of the 2010 Olympic Games. Tomasevicz holds a bachelor and master's of science degree in electrical engineering with a minor in astronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was named an Academic All Big XII in 2002 and played football for the Cornhuskers from 2000-2003. Click HERE for the interview. Be patient with the download and enjoy!
A Spectator's Paradise on Blackcomb Mountain: The Whistler Sliding Centre -
The Olympic Cauldron will be lit in Vancouver on February 12, 2010. This weekend is a good time to pencil in the Men's and Women's Bobsleigh events into your calendars for television viewing, so here they are:
In recent blog posts, I have enjoyed sharing information with you about some amazing and dedicated athletes who inspire us all. The men and women of the U.S. Olympic Bobsled (Bobsleigh) Team come from different towns and cities across the United States. Their individual journey's in reaching the Olympics is itself awe-inspiring. Whenever possible, I have made it a point to hear each athlete interviewed on audio or video tape. Their perspectives are unique and fascinating. But yesterday, I also spent several hours studying the construction and design characteristics of the The Whistler Sliding Centre on my computer. Built on the southeast flank of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia (in Fitzsimmons Creek valley) this track is now considered the fastest in the world. It's been a genuine joy for me to learn more about the incredible Americans who will represent us at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver!
Steven Holcomb’s Four-Man Bobsled Team, 2009 USOC Team of the Year
"The Night Train”--even the name has an ethereal quality to it that a character in a Clint Eastwood movie might enjoy. This team is just as intense as any of Clint's movie roles, and similarly, they don't mess around. This four-man bobsled team is the 2009 U.S.Olympic Committee Team of the Year. One man whom you will certainly recognize in this video clip is driver Steve Holcomb (Park City, Utah). Just a few years ago, Steve almost lost his vision due to a degenerative eye disease. However, a revolutionary surgical procedure restored his sight from 20-500 to 20-20 and he is guiding our Men's Four-Man Bobsled Team towards capturing the Olympic Gold medal for the first time in 62 years! As you may know, on February 28, 2009 the team captured The FIBT World Championship in Lake Placid, New York. That victory ended a 50-year dry spell to capture the World Championship medal for the U.S. In addition, "The Night Train" placed fourth overall for the 2008-2009 World Cup season, including two gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze.
Mens 4-Man Bobsled Team USA 2009 USOC Team of the Year:
Steve Holcomb (Park City, Utah) Justin Olsen (San Antonio, Texas) Steve Mesler (Buffalo, New York) Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Nebraska) -
Holcomb:“It's quite an honor to be named Team of the Year. There are a lot of great athletes and great teams out there and to be seen as the best is a wonderful feeling. I know my team has worked really hard not only in the winter season, but during the summer and this will mean a lot to all of us. Our momentum is growing as we approach the Olympics, and this will only help build on what we have already established.”
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Allow me to digress slightly (with enthusiasm, of course). The U.S. has qualified three sleds in both two and four-man bobsled events. Here are the Four-Man Bobsled Teams representing the United States:
USA I:
Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah)
Justin Olsen (San Antonio, Texas)
Steve Mesler (Buffalo, New York)
Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Nebraska)
USA II:
John Napier (Lake Placid, New York)
Chuck Berkeley (Clayton, California)
Steve Langton (Melrose, Massachusetts.)
Chris Fogt (Alpine, Utah)
USA III:
Mike Kohn (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
Jamie Moriarty (Winnetka, Illinois)
Bill Schuffenhauer (Ogden, Utah)
Nick Cunningham (Monterey, California)
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Only three nations are qualified to enter three sleds into the 2010 Olympics: Germany, Switzerland and The United States.To quote a line from a Steve McQueen film: "Time starts now".
USA Women's Bobsled 2010 Olympic Team L-R: Michelle Rzepka, Elana Meyers. Erin Pac,
Bree Schaaf, Emily Azevedo and Shauna Rohbock
(Photo Credit: Charlie Booker) -
My blogging has been rather limited into the New Year. But today I had to simply make time. That's because this is only the third Olympics that the U.S. Women's Bobsled Team have had a sled of any kind (they won Gold in 2002 and Silver in 2006). This year, we have three sleds entered in competition! On the heels of my previous posts of 11/30/09 ("Bree Schaaf and Bobsledding"), 12/02/09 ("Emily Azevedo & Bobsledding"), 12/04/09 ("Bobsledding Passion") and 12/06/09 ("Women's 2-Man Bobsled World Cup Results") it's a thrill for us to keep in mind who the drivers and brakemen are that will be representing our country. Each country is allowed to bring 2 bobsleds. Those that are allowed to bring a third have to have one of the top two rankings in the world of all the number 3 bobsleds after they have finished their season. USA 1 will be driven by 2006 Silver medalist Shauna Rohbock with brakeman Michelle Rzepka. USA II will be driven by Erin Pac with brakeman Elana Meyers. USA III will be driven by Bree Schaaf with brakeman Emily Azevedo.
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The year 1999 was significant for me (I earned my college degree that year). But it was significant for other reasons related to sports. In October, 1999 the International Olympic Committee added Women's Bobsleigh (in the U.S. we call it Bobsled) to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Accordingly, the first-ever Women's Olympic Bobsled Competition took place in Park City, Utah at Olympic Park in February, 2002. Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers earned the Gold Medal for the United States. In 2006, Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming earned the Silver Medal for the United States.
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Mark your calendars for February 23rd and 24th when the Women's 2-Man Bobsled will be televised. Universal Sports will cover the races, or you can go to www.universalsports.com. Take a good look at our team in the photo above. All year-long, indeed, in the years leading up to the Olympics they have trained hard. They have heart and soul. They are ready. And we will be pulling for them one-hundred percent! Another good place to follow team race results and learn more about our drivers and push talent (particularly in the interim, is on www.fibt.com.) Delayed video of previous races is also available by engaging their On Demand Streaming.
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TeamUSA
USA I: Shauna Rohbock (Park City, Utah) and Michelle Rzepka (Novi, Michigan).
USA II: Erin Pac (Farmington, Connecticut) and Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Georgia).
USA III: Bree Schaaf (Bremerton, Washington) and Emily Azevedo (Chico, California).
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We'll focus on the Men's Bobsled Team USA shortly!
L-R: Eric Carmen, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley, Rick Springfield & Jim Bonfanti -
Jim Bullotta was kind enough to send me a photo of The Raspberries with Rick Springfield after the October 21, 2005 L.A. House of Blues concert that was filmed for the 2-CD /1 DVD release "Live On Sunset Strip". Jim and Kent Hagen were Cinematographers of the show. Of course, it's great fun to see spirited photos like this one of true musical legends getting together for a visit. Thanks, Jim! MM
Basically, I'm a Public Relations Consultant with a background in Broadcast News. I've worked as a Reporter and Anchor with PBS, ABC, CBS & NBC affiliates and in Cable Television. I'm active in Radio & Television Commercials, Guest Speaking engagements and I enjoy writing, music and sports.
L-R: Elana Meyers with Erin Pac
