Schaaf earns berth on U.S. Olympic bobsled squad

Bobsled driver Bree Schaaf of Bremerton could hardly believe it Saturday when realizing she clinched a spot on the U.S. Olympic roster.

By day's end, she had plenty of teammates.

The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation formally announced 11 spots on its roster for next month's Vancouver Games on Saturday, and another berth — for bobsledder Mike Kohn, who wasn't in the Olympic picture when the season began — was clinched earlier in the day when he finished 12th in a World Cup race in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

"Going to the Olympics will feel like going home, but I had to get there first by driving a new track every week," the 29-year-old Schaaf said. "I can't believe I get to walk in opening ceremonies. I dreamed about this, but now it's really real."

Real for a lot of other people, too.

In the Olympic women's bobsled competition for the United States, 2006 silver medalist Shauna Rohbock will drive with Michelle Rzepka, Erin Pac will drive with Elana Meyers and Schaaf — who wrapped up her berth with an 11th-place showing Saturday in St. Moritz, good enough to keep her ninth in the overall world standings — will drive with Emily Azevedo.

In skeleton, John Daly locked up a third start position for the U.S. men by winning an Intercontinental Cup race Friday night in Calgary, Alberta, but there had been doubt over whether that spot would go to him or Matt Antoine. Now it is certain. Daly is an Olympian, set to compete alongside two-time qualifier Eric Bernotas and Zach Lund.

The U.S. women in skeleton are Katie Uhlaender and Noelle Pikus-Pace, both of whom overcame injuries.

Notes

• Nominations for the U.S. men's bobsled team are expected today.

• Swiss skier Carlo Janka won a World Cup downhill in Wengen, Switzerland. Bode Miller of Franconia, N.H., who edged Janka in Friday's super combined, crashed near the finish line and escaped injury.

Scott Macartney of Kirkland placed 41st.

• Lindsey Vonn of Vail, Colo., crashed three gates from the finish but was not hurt, while Kathrin Zettel of Austria won a World Cup giant slalom in Maribor, Slovenia.

• Joannie Rochette won her sixth consecutive Canadian figure-skating title.

The men's free skate is today in London, Ontario.