Canada’s Mirela Rahneva Slides to Seventh at Skeleton World Cup in Austria

IGLS, Aut.—Canada’s Mirela Rahneva will leave Igls, Austria looking for more consistency in her quest to climb back onto the World Cup podium following a seventh-place finish in the women’s skeleton race on Friday.

The Ottawa native could not rebound from a seventh-place time in the opening heat and finished with a two-run time of 1:48.03 on the 1,478-metre track.

“I was hoping I’d have two good runs today,” said Rahneva, who was also seventh one week ago. “I was happy I managed to pull off at least one decent on. I’m still learning lots, so I hope to build off these last two weeks going into Konigssee next weekend.”

The 2018 Olympian, who has one podium this season, posted the sixth and fifth-fastest start times on a course that puts a premium on the top of the track. Rahneva held her seventh-place spot after posting the fifth-fastest time of the final heat.

Germany’s Jacqueline Loelling edged out Austria’s Janine Flock by .02 seconds to take the gold with a time of 1:47.44. Flock claimed the silver with a time of 1:47.46. American, Megan Henry, hopped onto the bronze-medal step of the podium after clocking-in at 1:47.70.

Jane Channell, of North Vancouver, slid to 13th place at 1:48.52. Calgary’s Madison Charney placed 17th at 1:48.76.

In the men’s race, neither of the two Canadians qualified for a second run. Calgary’s Kyle Murray was 23rd, while Kevin Boyer, of Sherwood Park, Alta, was 24th.

Latvia’s Martins Dukurs finished on top with a time of 1:44.50.

The World Cup continues on Saturday in Austria with the men’s and women’s bobsleigh races.

Women’s Skeleton Results: https://www.ibsf.org/en/component/events/event/500255

Men’s Skeleton Results: https://www.ibsf.org/en/component/events/event/500254

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