Wolfgang Kindl, Erin Hamlin capture sprint races at luge worlds

​Austrian luger Wolfgang Kindl won the men's sprint title at his home world championships on Friday in Igls, Austria, while Erin Hamlin took the women's race for the American's second career gold medal.

Kindl led Roman Repilov of Russia by 0.012 for his first gold medal. Dominik Fischnaller of Italy finished 0.123 behind and won bronze.

Defending champion Felix Loch of Germany came more than two tenths off the pace in 10th.

Earlier, Hamlin prevailed in 30.074 seconds, beating defending champion Martina Kocher of Switzerland by 0.009 seconds, while Tatjana Huefner of Germany was 0.010 behind in third to take the bronze.

It's the third world title in USA Luge history, the first in Europe, and the first gold for the Americans in a world championships race since Hamlin prevailed on her home track at Lake Placid in 2009.

"It's nice to be able to still come to a race, a big race, and be able to perform when it's needed," Hamlin said. "Especially when I've been training well and I've been sliding well, to have that reflected in my results … to race as well as you train, I'm happy."

Canada's McRae 7th in women's sprint

Hamlin also took bronze at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

There was no all-night celebration planned; Hamlin still has more sliding to do this weekend, with the women's race Saturday and the team relay Sunday.

Victoria's Kimberly McRae finished seventh on Friday in a time of 30.109 seconds.

In the doubles sprint, German duo Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt successfully defended the title they won last year on home ice in Koenigssee.

Wendl and Arlt, who also are the 2014 Olympic champions, beat Peter Penz and Georg Fischler of Austria by 0.106 seconds. Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken were 0.113 behind to make it a German sweep.

Justin Snith and Tristan Walker of Canada placed 10th in 30.137 seconds.