Canadian Skeleton Athletes Stacked in Top-10 at World Cup in Winterberg
—Sarah Reid leads four Canadians into top-10—
WINTERBERG, Ger.—Four Canadians slid their way into the top-10 on a day that presented a mixed bag of tricks at the Skeleton World Cup in Winterberg, Germany on Friday.
Calgary’s Sarah Reid posted the best Canadian result on the day finishing in sixth spot. The 25-year-old, who captured the first two podium results of her career over the first three races this season, clocked a two-run time of one minute, 57.72 seconds. (157.72). Reid, who was in seventh place after her first run, jumped up one spot after her second bomb down the short Winterberg track to finish on top of a trio of Canadian women.
Sitting in third spot after her first run, World Cup rookie Cassie Hawrysh, of Brandon, Man., was hunting down her first podium finish. In just her second visit ever to Winterberg, the 28-year-old Hawrysh, of Brandon, Man., finished just behind the top-two racers on the first descent who both set track records.
“It was a great feeling to come across that finish line in third, but there is no denying there is an extra level of pressure that comes with being one of the final sleds off for the second run. I realize these ultimately are scenarios that are important for my continued progression,” said Hawrysh.
“I felt really good on the second run, however, in a sport where if you give up a few hundredths on the push, and perhaps don’t execute steers quite right, your downtime can suffer. To see my finish was real tough but I am learning so much every single day, and bit-by-bit, I’m climbing my closer to the World Cup podium.”
Olympic bronze medallist, Mellisa Hollingsworth of Eckville, Alta., rounded out the Canadian women in the top-10, finishing eighth with a time of 1:57.88.
Shelley Rudman, of Great Britain, captured her first title of the pre-Olympic season with a time of 1:56.30. Germany’s Anja Huber celebrated the silver medal with her hometown crowd, clocking-in at 1:57.29, while Noelle Pikus-Pace finished third at 1:57.40.
Eric Neilson, of Kelowna, B.C., was the top male Canuck, and final Canadian to climb into the top-10. Neilson placed eighth with a time of 1:54.22.
Calgary’s John Fairbairn finished a disappointing 18th at 1:55.38, while Olympic champion, Jon Montgomery, of Russell, Man., popped out of the start groove in his first run and did not qualify for the second heat, finishing 29th.
Latvia’s Martins Dukurs continued his dominance of the World Cup winning for the third time after stopping the clock at 1:52.71. Russia’s Alexander Tretjyakov was second at 1:52.87, while Germany’s Christopher Grotheer placed third with a time of 1:53.61
Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Dow Chemical, Adidas, KBC Helmets, Eurotech – Viking Engineering, SAIT Polytechnic, Conceptum Sport Logistics, Therapeutica – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops Olympic and world champions. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.
Complete Results: www.fibt.com
Top-Five Women’s Skeleton Results:
1. Shelley Rudman, GBR, 156.30; 2. Anja Huber, GER, 1:57.29; 3. Noelle Pikus-Pace, USA, 1:57.40; 4. Elizabeth Yarnold, GBR, 1:57.62; 5. Michelle Steele, AUS, 1:57.64
Canadian Results:
6. Sarah Reid, Calgary, 1:57.72; 7. Cassie Hawrysh, Brandon, Man., 1:57.78; 8. Mellisa Hollingsworth, Eckville, Alta., 1:57.88
Top-Five Men’s Skeleton Results:
1. Martins Dukurs, LAT, 1:52.71; 2. Alexander Tretjyakov, RUS, 1:52.87; 3. Christopher Grotheer, GER, 1:53.61; 4. Kristan Bromley, GBR, 1:53.84; 5. Tomass Dukurs, LAT, 1:53.89
Canadian Results:
8. Eric Neilson, Kelowna, B.C., 1:54.22; 18. John Fairbairn, Calgary, 1:55.38; 29. Jon Montgomery, (DNQ for second run).