Canada's Sarah Reid jumps on her sledge in Winterberg, Germany, on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Martin Meissner
January 04, 2014 - 9:18 AM
WINTERBERG, Germany - Canadian Sarah Reid won a bronze medal Saturday at the Winterberg skeleton World Cup while Britain's Lizzie Yarnold topped Noelle Pikus-Pace of the United States in the second run for the victory.
Reid, from Calgary, was third with a two-run time of one minute 58.49 seconds. Yarnold took gold in 1:57.53 and Pikus-Pace won silver in 1:58.10.
Reid, who won bronze earlier this season in Park City, Utah, now has seven career World Cup medals.
"I'm really happy with today. I had two good pushes and my runs were smooth," said Reid, who was recently named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic team. "I've had some up-and-down results in Winterberg so to be back on the podium is important for me.
"This is a bit of a lucky track because weather plays such a huge factor and the track always deteriorates."
Yarnold had a 5.34-second start to begin her second run, 0.22 seconds faster than Pikus-Pace, and rode that momentum the rest of the way. Mellisa Hollingsworth of Eckville, Alta. was tied in sixth place and Calgary's Robynne Thompson was 17th.
Reid won five medals last season, including a third-place finish at the 2013 world championships. She is currently fourth in the overall standings.
"It is a big deal for me to get back on the podium on a European track," she said. "The end goal is obviously to be on the podium in Sochi, but the leadup is very important for me.
"Knowing I'm having success along the way and that I'm exactly where I want to be with my pushes and sliding is a confidence booster for me."
Yarnold leads the standings with 1,085 points, 225 more than Pikus-Pace — who lost exactly that many points when she was disqualified after finishing first in the season opener at Calgary. Britain's Shelly Rudman is third overall.
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With files from The Associated Press.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014