2012/2013 FIBT World Cup - Round 4 - Women's Skeleton

From Winterberg, Germany

How fast is the track in Winterberg today? Anja Huber beat the track record, and that time stood for about a minute and a half: The time between the end of her run and the end of Shelley Rudman’s run. Rudman obliterated the track record coming into the race by .6 seconds. Huber sits second on the strength of her run, while Canadian rookie sensation Cassie Hawrysh is currently third after the first run.

Grooves were popped by a handful of sliders, including both Americans. Noelle Pikus-Pace popped late and held on for a tie for fourth, while Katie Uhlaender popped early and lost a ton of speed at the top, and will miss heat 2.

Good runs early for the Canadians, with Hawrysh holding down the bronze medal position after heat 1, Sarah Reid 7th and Mellisa Hollingsworth 8th.

The bulk of the British team has found the speed at Winterberg, with Rudman leading handily, and Lizzy Yarnold in a tie for for fourth with Pikus-Pace. Donna Creighton popped a groove on her start and will miss the second heat, being bumped late by Russian Elena Nikitina.

Results after heat 1:

Pos	Name	Nation	Draw	Run 1
1	Shelley Rudman	GBR	4	58.06
2	Anja Huber	GER	3	58.59
3	Cassie Hawrysh	CAN	8	58.77
4	Elizabeth Yarnold	GBR	10	58.81
5	Noelle Pikus-Pace	USA	12	58.81
6	Michelle Steele	AUS	13	58.83
7	Sarah Reid	CAN	2	58.93
8	Mellisa Hollingsworth	CAN	7	58.94
9	Maria Orlova	RUS	15	59.01
10	Elena Nikitina	RUS	23	59.03
11	Janine Flock	AUT	14	59.09
12	Lucy Chaffer	AUS	9	59.11
13	Marion Thees	GER	1	59.27
14	Kathleen Lorenz	GER	5	59.31
15	Katharine Eustace	NZL	16	59.39
16	Maria Marinela Mazilu	ROU	24	59.40
17	Marina Gilardoni	SUI	20	59.46
18	Olga Potylitsina	RUS	18	59.49
19	Lelde Priedulena	LAT	19	59.60
20	Joska Le Conte	NED	17	59.68
21	Katie Uhlaender	USA	6	59.73
22	Donna Creighton	GBR	11	59.94
23	Delia Ivas	ROU	22	60.28
24	Barbara Hosch	SUI	21	60.39