Emily Sweeney and Tucker West jumped to the lead after the first of two days of Norton National Championship racing. Winter conditions, including snow and wind, greeted the field of USA Luge National and Junior National Team athletes for the afternoon competition. The Utah Olympic Park, site of the 2002 and the upcoming 2034 Olympic luge events, is hosting the competition. Despite the weather, sled speeds topped 84 mph for the men and 77 mph for the women.  The race format combines the times of four runs taken over two days, mimicking the Olympic race format for singles luge.  World Cup winner West (Lake Placid, N.Y.) gained an early advantage in both heats by virtue of his strong starts. He posted a two-run total time of one minute, 31.862 seconds. 2022 Olympian Jonny Gustafson (Massena, N.Y.) sits in second place in 1:32.018. Junior National team athlete Aidan Mueller (West Islip, N.Y.) holds third in 1:32.905, with two-time Junior World Championship medalist Matt Greiner (Park City, Utah) posting a fourth-place time of 1:33.017. Logan Barnes (Clarkesville, Tenn.), also a Junior Team athlete, sits in fifth in 1:34.339. Hunter Harris (East Fairfield, Vt.) was sixth in 1:33.909. World Championship medalist Sweeney (Lake Placid, N.Y.) holds a slim lead over 2022 Olympian and local favorite Ashley Farquharson (Park City, Utah). Sweeney leads with 1:28.373, just .037 over Farquharson. Five-time World Cup winner Summer Britcher (Glen Rock, Pa.) holds the bronze medal spot in 1:28.645, in front of Emma Erickson (Park City, Utah) who is in fourth with a time of 1:29.642. Junior National Team athlete Macey Schomaker (Park City, Utah) is currently fifth in 1:31.329.  The Norton National Championships resume on Tuesday, November 5, at 2:30 p.m. MT/12:30 p.m. ET, and can be seen in-person at the Utah Olympic Park for free. Races can also be viewed on the Utah Olympic Park YouTube Channel. Tuesday’s race will feature the conclusion of the men’s and women’s singles competition. In line with the Olympic format, the two heat men’s and women’s doubles championship races will also take place.The nine-circuit World Cup season will kick-off in Lillehammer, Norway, November 29-December 1, 2024, with the 53rd World Championships scheduled for February 6-9, 2025, in Whistler,Canada.  For more information on the Fastest Sport on Ice®, log on to www.usaluge.orgThe post Sweeney, West lead in nationals for luge at Utah Olympic Park appeared first on Park Record.