Weekend in review

United States bobsled success is among the story lines to check out from weekend action on the winter sports circuit. Others inlcude Germany's dominance in luge and skeleton, and Shani Davis' impressive win streak. Here's a recap of what happened.

Bobsled
Bobsled bred competitor John Napier raced to his first-ever gold medal in the two-man event, giving the U.S. their first gold of the 2009-10 World Cup season. Steve Holcomb, the reigning four-man bobsled world champion, kept the momentum going to claim the top spot in the four-man competition, rounding out the United States a 1-2 finish for the second straight day. In the women's race, the Germans dominated once again as Cathleen Martini and Sandra Kiriasis finished 1-2, while Shauna Rohbock and Elana Meyers were the top U.S. finishers in fifth. Read more.

Figure Skating
The Grand Prix circuit ended in Kitchener, Ontario over the weekend. American Jeremy Abbott took the men's title at Skate Canada while Canadian Joannie Rochette was the top lady. The Germay's Aliona Savchenko / Robin Szolkowy and Canada's Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir took the pairs and dance titles, respectively, each earning a perfect score from one judge. The event also determined the field for the Grand Prix Final, held in Tokyo in two weeks. Read more.

Cross-country skiing
Kikkan Randall and Kris Freeman led the way for the U.S. at the opening event of the 2009-10 World Cup season in Beitostolen, Norway. Although Randall's 21st-place finish in the 10km freestyle (won by Norway's Marit Bjoergen) was not awe-inspiring, she demonstrated her ability to keep pace in a distance race. The sprint specialist heads to next weekend's classic sprint event in Kuusamo with a solid race under her belt. The same goes for Freeman, whose 22nd-place result the 15km freestyle was better than it appears. Freeman, who favors the classical technique, finished less than one minute behind the surprise winner, Norway's Ronny Hafsas. The following day, the Swedish women and Norwegian men won the relay events. Read more.

Speed skating
American Shani Davis won his third-straight 1500m race on the World Cup circuit, and posted his fastest time of the season at the Norway stop. In each of his 1500m wins, Davis has finished more than a second ahead of the field. Compatriot Chad Hedrick finished fourth while defending Olympic champion Enrico Fabris was fifth. Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic won the 5000m. Read more.

Dutchman Sven Kramer also continued his dominant run, winning the 10,000m with a track record. Kramer is the world-record holder and reigning world champion and in that event. Canada's Kristina Groves won the 1500m. Read more.

Luge
Doubles team Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch set the tone for what would be Germany's weekend in luge's World Cup season opener at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. The four-time world champions grabbed gold in the men's doubles event, as two-time Olympians, Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin of the U.S., finished a disappointing eighth. Led by Torino bronze medalist, Tatjana Huefner, Germany also swept the women's competition to finish in the first four spots, while Italian luge legend, defending Olympic gold medalist, Armin Zoeggeler took first in men's singles. Tony Benshoof, who will undergo an epidural for a herniated disk in his lower back on Monday, placed sixth. Erin Hamlin, 2009 World Champion, was the top American female with seventh. Read more.

Skeleton
Frank Rommel led Germany to a 1-2 finish in the men's competition at lake Placid, N.Y., as his compatriot Sandro Stielicke won his second World Cup silver. Latvia's Martins Dukurs, Park City gold medalist, finished third. Also in Lake Placid, Canada's Mellisa Hollingsworth bested Great Britain's Shelley Rudman and Marion Trott of Germany to capture her first-ever gold in a World Cup event. U.S. slider Noelle Pikus-Pace was the top American with fifth place. Read more.