British Bobsleigh Association
Brits well placed for skeleton medals
18 February 2010
Britain's Amy Williams set a new track record on her way to the halfway lead in the women's skeleton at Whistler.
The 27-year-old set a new best of 53.83 seconds on run one and her combined time of 1:47.96 after two runs gives her a lead of 0.30 seconds.
Shelley Rudman improved from 11th to joint seventh while Kristan Bromley and Adam Pengilly lie fifth and 20th respectively.
Rounds three and four take place on Friday from 2340 GMT.
Williams admitted that her first run could have been better, despite being the only woman to break 54 seconds.
She told BBC Sport: "I don't really think about times, it felt really messy. But I love this track.
"I've got to keep level headed though and sleep well. And thanks to everyone at home for staying up late to watch!"
Rudman, who won silver in Turin four years ago, said her opening 54.66 seconds run was "terrible".
"It couldn't have been worse," she added. "I was a bit skiddy at the top and made a mistake on corner 13 so I lost a lot of time.
"It was nice to make it better on the second run, but I need to improve more to get in the mix.
"It's not one of my favourite tracks, but at least I'm happy with my start."
Germany's Kerstin Szymkowiak lies second, with pre-race favourite and home slider Mellisa Hollingsworth in third, 0.39 seconds behind Williams.
In the men's event, Bromley improved from seventh after the first run to fifth with a 52.89-second slide. He lies just 0.05 seconds outside a medal place, but almost a full second behind leader Martins Dukurs of Latvia.
Pengilly lies in 20th, 3.01 seconds off the pace.
Shelley Rudman improved from 11th to joint seventh while Kristan Bromley and Adam Pengilly lie fifth and 20th respectively.
Rounds three and four take place on Friday from 2340 GMT.
Williams admitted that her first run could have been better, despite being the only woman to break 54 seconds.
She told BBC Sport: "I don't really think about times, it felt really messy. But I love this track.
"I've got to keep level headed though and sleep well. And thanks to everyone at home for staying up late to watch!"
Rudman, who won silver in Turin four years ago, said her opening 54.66 seconds run was "terrible".
"It couldn't have been worse," she added. "I was a bit skiddy at the top and made a mistake on corner 13 so I lost a lot of time.
"It was nice to make it better on the second run, but I need to improve more to get in the mix.
"It's not one of my favourite tracks, but at least I'm happy with my start."
Germany's Kerstin Szymkowiak lies second, with pre-race favourite and home slider Mellisa Hollingsworth in third, 0.39 seconds behind Williams.
In the men's event, Bromley improved from seventh after the first run to fifth with a 52.89-second slide. He lies just 0.05 seconds outside a medal place, but almost a full second behind leader Martins Dukurs of Latvia.
Pengilly lies in 20th, 3.01 seconds off the pace.