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Brooms away United States sweeps medals in men's halfpipePosted: Monday February 11, 2002 4:38 PMUpdated: Sunday February 17, 2002 8:03 PM
PARK CITY, Utah (Ticker) -- Snowboarding remained an American medals bonanza Monday as Ross Powers led a U.S. sweep of the men's halfpipe at the Park City Mountain Resort. One day after teenage snowboader Kelly Clark won the United States' first gold medal, Powers and teammates Danny Kass and Jarret Thomas thrilled a capacity crowd of more than 16,500. The 1998 bronze medalist in Nagano, Powers spearheaded the first American medals sweep in any Winter Games since men's figure skating in 1956. "Snowboarding was started in the USA and there are so many good snowboarders in the USA, and I guess we've kind of been leading the way, whether it's been in the halfpipe or in the videos," Powers said. Powers set the standard early, scoring a 46.1 on his first of two jumps. He linked back-to-back McTwists, adding a Cab cork-720 to the delight of the pro-American crowd.
Like Clark, Powers is a Vermont native. "Just watching her yesterday kind of psyched us up, and Vermont must be psyched. I know it is huge for me," Powers said. "It is going to be crazy to go home." Kass was second with 42.5 points, just ahead of Thomas' 42.1. Countryman Tommy Czeschin, the pace-setter in qualifying, was sixth with 40.6. "I'm really happy to be part of the United States sweep and to be on the program with J.J. and Ross," said Kass, a 19-year-old from Hamburg, N.J. The sweep gave the United States six medals through three days of Olympic competition, tying it for the lead with Austria and Germany.
Defending silver medalist Daniel Franck of Norway was 10th,
followed by reigning world champion Magnus Sterner of Sweden.
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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