Lake Placid (pps) For the second time after 2012, the American-Pacific Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) will be carried out within the eighth event of the Viessmann Luge World Cup series in Lake Placid. The titles will be awarded after a “race-in-race” competition, similar to FIL Luge European Championships. Defending Champions are Alex Gough of Canada, who won the bronze medal at the World Championships “back home” in Whistler, her compatriot Sam Edney, who posted a splendid fifth-place finish at the Worlds, as well as the U.S. team of Matthew Mortensen and Preston Griffal, who earned a fifth place in the Team Relay event in Whistler.