Marquette resident Torrey Cookman slides down the track in Unhausen, Austria, during a World Cup Natural Track Luge race during the weekend of Jan. 14-16. Normally a Junior-level racer, he got a chance to race at the Senior level. (Photo courtesy @photolove Miriam Jennewein)

MARQUETTE — Four members of the Upper Peninsula Luge Club had a chance to race at a Senior-level World Cup Natural Track Luge meet in Austria last weekend.

Three Junior-level racers, Kurt Bates of Ishpeming, Torrey Cookman of Marquette and Henry Anderson of Appleton, Wisconsin, joined Senior racer Zane Farnsworth of Marquette at a race dubbed “The Revenge” in the Austria town of Umhausen.

The Juniors traveled to nearby Imst, Austria, to meet up with Farnsworth as all raced in the second Senior World Cup meet there.

This was Bates’ first time racing at the Senior level.

“The race, being a senior race, was nerve-racking, but it was nice doing one this season,” he said.

Bates clocked a one-run time of 1 minute, 30.18 seconds, not fast enough to qualify for the World Cup, though he placed seventh in the Nations Cup.

Cookman, Anderson and Farnswroth did qualify for the World Cup event with their first-run times.

Cookman was the highest finisher among the Americans, placing 19th in a two-run time of 2:38.30, with Anderson 24th in 2:44.73 and Farnsworth 25th in 2:55.87.

“During training this week I was aiming for a (one-run time of) sub-1:20, so when I slid a 1:18, a personal record, during the race, I was super excited,” Cookman said. “My second run was not as nice, but I was still happy with it. I am looking forward to my next race in Navis, Austria.”

The four boys, plus Katie Cookman of Marquette, make up the U.S. team competing in Europe this winter in natural luge.

The team trains at the Lucy Hill track in Negaunee.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.