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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