From Sochi, Russia
After the first day of women’s skeleton, there are few surprises up top. Great Britain’s Lizzy Yarnold will go into the second day of racing as the leader. The World Cup champion amazingly left a little bit on the track in her second heat, but finished .44 ahead of American Noelle Pikus-Pace. Pikus-Pace was also consistent, her times separated by .03, but with a lot of work to do if she wants to take gold on Friday.
Elena Nikitina showed none of the consistency that the two leaders had. Coming into the second run just .05 behind Yarnold, the Russian’s second run was almost a full half-second slower than her first,. Nikitina sits third, just ahead of American Katie Uhlaender. Uhlaender has had a tough season battling various injuries, but is peaking at just the right time. She sits fourth after the first two heats, just .12 out of a bronze medal. Nikitina’s teammate, Olga Potylitsina, is fifth.
The Canadian women took the final two World Cup races of the season off, but haven’t got the results to show for it. Sarah Reid is eighth, but is within shouting distance of a top six finish, while Mellisa Hollingsworth is 16th.
Shelley Rudman has some work to do for Great Britain. The 2013 World Champion goes into the second day of sliding 11th. Neither run in Day 1 was noticeably bad, but the speed just wasn’t there.
Results after two heats:
| Pos | Name | Nation | Draw | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
| 1 | Elizabeth Yarnold | GBR | 2 | 58.43 | 58.46 | 1:56.89 |
| 2 | Noelle Pikus-Pace | USA | 1 | 58.68 | 58.65 | 1:57.33 |
| 3 | Elena Nikitina | RUS | 12 | 58.48 | 58.96 | 1:57.44 |
| 4 | Katie Uhlaender | USA | 15 | 58.83 | 58.75 | 1:57.58 |
| 5 | Olga Potylitsina | RUS | 13 | 59.00 | 58.75 | 1:57.75 |
| 6 | Maria Orlova | RUS | 10 | 58.97 | 59.02 | 1:57.99 |
| 7 | Anja Huber | GER | 5 | 59.17 | 59.13 | 1:58.30 |
| 8 | Sarah Reid | CAN | 16 | 59.14 | 59.17 | 1:58.31 |
| 9 | Sophia Griebel | GER | 8 | 59.43 | 59.20 | 1:58.63 |
| 10 | Marion Thees | GER | 6 | 59.25 | 59.42 | 1:58.67 |
| 11 | Shelley Rudman | GBR | 3 | 59.46 | 59.33 | 1:58.79 |
| 12 | Michelle Steele | AUS | 11 | 59.42 | 59.41 | 1:58.83 |
| 13 | Janine Flock | AUT | 4 | 59.47 | 59.39 | 1:58.86 |
| 14 | Katharine Eustace | NZL | 9 | 59.52 | 59.46 | 1:58.98 |
| 15 | Lelde Priedulena | LAT | 19 | 59.73 | 59.31 | 1:59.04 |
| 16 | Mellisa Hollingsworth | CAN | 17 | 59.68 | 59.70 | 1:59.38 |
| 17 | Lucy Chaffer | AUS | 14 | 60.16 | 59.25 | 1:59.41 |
| 18 | Marina Gilardoni | SUI | 7 | 59.77 | 59.79 | 1:59.56 |
| 19 | Nozomi Komuro | JPN | 18 | 59.94 | 59.82 | 1:59.76 |
| 20 | Maria Marinela Mazilu | ROU | 20 | 59.99 | 59.89 | 1:59.88 |
