American bobsledders dedicate their World Cup medals in Park City to the late Steve Holcomb

Park City • Jamie Greubel Poser could have had defeat on her mind. Earlier this month, the U.S. bobsled driver finished just off the podium — fourth place thanks to a hundredth of a second difference — on her home track in Lake Placid, N.Y.

“I was definitely frustrated,” she said.

But instead of dwelling on that loss, Greubel Poser found her mind going back to her late teammate, Steven Holcomb, as she prepared for Friday’s World Cup race at the Utah Olympic Park. And after Greubel Poser had crossed the finish line in Park City — earning her first gold medal of the season, and her first gold medal finish in Utah — she dedicated her victory to Holcomb, the Utah native who died last May at the age of 37.

“It was very meaningful to win here, especially with everything that’s happened with our team,” Greubel Poser said. “This one was definitely for Holcomb. He was definitely in my heart today.”

Greubel Poser and her brakeman, Lauren Gibbs, finished with a time of 1:40.72 to win the women’s bobsled gold. Canada’s Kaillie Humphries, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, finished second.

“It feels good,” Greubel Poser said of beating Humphries. “Every time you’re on a track, it’s completely different. So it’s really nice to come out on top. It’s a long seasons and we’re definitely going to be battling to the very end.”

The U.S. team of Elana Meyers Taylor and Lolo Jones took third place, with a time of 1:40.99. Americans Brittany Reinbolt and Aja Evans finished in fifth place.

Greubel Poser and Meyers Taylor now sit in second and third in the World Cup rankings, behind Humphries.

“It’s always great to compete in Park City,” Meyers Taylor said. “It’s our second home and also it’s Holcomb’s home. … It’s extremely difficult. Every day is different, and finding out what is our new normal without him here has been a struggle. But we’re a team and we’re going to come together and rally around it.”

With Gibbs as her brakeman in Lake Placid, Meyers Taylor won a silver medal to start her season. This time, Gibbs, who is looking to earn a spot in her first Olympic games, made sure her friend and teammate Greubel Poser got a taste of the podium.

At the top of the track, the two women slapped high-fives but didn’t say a lot.

“She can usually read my mind,” Gibbs said. “I don’t have to say much.”

The fastest start of the first race put Gibbs and Greubel Poser in first place — and they refused to relinquish it in the second and final race.

“It’s great to win gold here and to feel like I contributed to that gold medal,” Gibbs said, adding it meant even more to do it on Holcomb’s home track. “I don’t think realize the impact of someone until they’re gone unfortunately. It’s still tough every day. … It’s just hard. It’s hard not to have him around. I just do the best to keep his legacy alive and do what he would want us to do.”