American Summer Britcher is heading to Beijing after her performance in Germany. Photo: USA Luge

WINTERBERG, Germany (AP) — Latvia won gold in a World Cup luge team relay on Sunday, with Austria second and the U.S. grabbing third.

The Latvian team of Eliza Tiruma, Kristers Aparjods and the doubles sled of Marlins Bots and Roberts Plume finished in 2 minutes, 24.294 seconds. Austria’s team of Madeleine Egle, Nico Gleirscher and the doubles sled of Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller was second in 2:24.652.

The Americans — Summer Britcher, Tucker West and the doubles team of Chris Mazdzer and Jayson Terdiman — got the bronze in 2:24.802. Germany, on home ice, managed only fourth in 2:24.955.

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It was the second team relay medal of the season for USA Luge, which grabbed silver in the season-opening relay on the new track in Yanqing, China, that will be used for the Beijing Olympics next month.

WOMEN’S SINGLES

Germany found the top of the podium in the women’s race earlier Sunday, with Julia Taubitz (1:53.167) rallying to overtake fellow German slider Natalie Geisenberger (1:53.408) in the second heat to claim the gold.

Egle was third for Austria. Taubitz moved 102 points ahead of Egle in the women’s overall World Cup standings with five races remaining; the margin between the two had been 72 entering Sunday.

Britcher was fifth in the women’s race, good enough to ensure that she will be selected for the U.S. Olympic team. When officially selected — USA Luge will nominate its full team later this month — Britcher will become a three-time Olympian.

“Beijing here I come,” Britcher tweeted.

Brittney Arndt was 12th and Ashley Farquharson 16th for the U.S. women. Emily Sweeney did not finish for the Americans, crashing out in her second heat after posting some of the fastest split times of anyone in the race.

UP NEXT

The World Cup luge series moves to Sigulda, Latvia, next weekend. It will be the final weekend of racing before the Americans announce their Olympic roster.