LAKE PLACID, USA—Canada’s dynamic skeleton duo of Hallie Clarke and Jane Channell slid into the top 12 after a hard-fought, two-day battle at the Skeleton World Championships in Lake Placid, New York on Friday.
The 20-year-old Clarke, who is the first athlete ever to hold both the Senior and Junior World Championship titles at the same time, scrapped her way to seventh spot. Channell, a two-time Olympian, finished 12th in the 28-woman field.
Clarke, of Brighton, Ont., came up short in her bid to successfully defend her World Championship crown, clocking a four-run time of 3:41:43 on the 1,455-metre track that snakes its way down Mt. Van Hoevenberg.
“It was a very tough field and I’m proud of how I handled myself against tough competition,” said Clarke, who is one of only five Canadians, two women, to have a Senior World Championship title. “I feel like I learned a lot with two very different World Championship experiences the last two years.”
The rising star in the sport of skeleton became the youngest World Champion ever one year ago in Winterberg, Germany when she jumped onto the top of the podium at just 19 years of age. She won the Junior World Championships in January earlier this year at the birthplace of the sport in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Clarke was poised to pounce onto the podium one again in Lake Placid. She was sitting in third place after Thursday’s opening two runs but was not able to hold her podium position on Friday.
“I’m definitely a bit disappointed with how day two went. I had my sights set on moving up, but that’s racing,” added Clarke. “I’m more determined than ever for next year, and excited to bring these lessons into qualifying for the Games next year.”
Jane Channell, of North Vancouver, showed no quit in her battle against the world’s best head-first sliders down the 20-corner chute. The 36-year-old Channell bolted off the block in all four runs. She clocked the fourth-fastest start time in each of her first three runs but was not able to keep the speed at the bottom.
“The starts have always been the strongest part of my race. I’ve been working hard to come back into form, and to build into next year,” said Channell, who has been juggling working life virtually on the road while continuing her pursuit of the 2026 Olympics. “Heading into today, I knew it was moving day. Run three didn’t go as planned but I was able to bring it back and move up a couple of spots.”
Relentless in her pursuit, Channell fought into the top 12 putting her best down in the last heat. She clocked the second fastest start time and sixth-quickest down time in the final run.
“I don’t quit. Each run is a new run. You can trust I’m going to go out there to give it hell every time I stand on the block. Push hard. Load quiet. Slide relaxed corner by corner as best I can,” said Channell. “I’m excited for the off season and to build on this race. Although we didn’t get the results we wanted, the team has never worked together better. Team dynamics are so important. This year, it’s only gotten better and better. It finally feels like Canada Skeleton is culturally where it should have always been thanks to the coaching and support staff. This is a massive steppingstone for next year being the Olympic year.”
Kimberley Bos, of The Netherlands, threw down top times in the each of the final two heats to secure the 2025 World Championship title. Bos posted a combined winning time of 3:40.06.
Mystique Ro, of the United States, thrilled the American crowd with a second-place time of 3:40.73. Anna Fernstaedt, of Czech Republic, was third at 3:40.81.
The World Championships continue on Saturday with the women’s monobob and two-man bobsleigh races. All of the action is streamed live on cbcsports.ca.
Complete Women’s Skeleton World Championships Results
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 – Karbon, Athabasca Oil Corporation in collaboration with Canada Actions I Love Energy – along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops champions in the community, on and off the track, who have a passion for bobsleigh and skeleton. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.
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