Friedrich, Lochner both declared world champs in 4-man bob

KOENIGSSEE, Germany (AP) Francesco Friedrich and Johannes Lochner were both declared world champions in four-man bobsled on Sunday when they couldn't be separated after four runs.

European champion Lochner, pushed by Matthias Kagerhuber, Joshua Bluhm and Christian Rasp, was leading after Saturday's first two runs.

Friedrich, pushed by Candy Bauer, Martin Grothkopp and Thorsten Margis, was fastest in the third to carve a minimal 0.01-second lead, before both German pilots clocked a combined time of 3 minutes, 14.10 seconds altogether.

''That was incredibly nerve-racking. From the second run onwards, it just went back and forth by a hundredth of a second. An awesome competition,'' Lochner said.

It was the first time since the worlds started in 1930 that there were two winners rather than one. Friedrich seemed happy to share the honors.

''I don't really want to introduce thousandths of a second in our sport,'' said Friedrich, who claimed his fourth straight world title in two-man bobsled the Sunday before.

Another German team, piloted by Nico Walther, with Kevin Kuske, Kevin Korona, Eric Franke, was 0.16 back in third, completing a home sweep.

American pilot Steven Holcomb, was just 0.01 behind Walther ahead of the final run, but he and teammates Carlo Valdes, James Reed and Samuel McGuffie had to settle for fifth, 0.34 back.

Defending champion Oskars Melbardis, pushed by Daumants Dreiskens, Arvis Vilkaste and Janis Strenga, finished fourth, 0.29 back.