Jamanka/Burghardt second ahead of Meyers Taylor/Hoffman
Yanqing (RWH) World Championships bronze medallist Laura Nolte with push athlete Deborah Levi (GER) ahead of 2018 Olympic Champion Mariama Jamanka with Alexandra Burghardt (GER) and overall World Cup winner Elana Meyers Taylor with Sylvia Hoffman (USA) - this is the order in which the top three duos in 2-woman bobsleigh will go into the final day of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
After two of four race runs, Nolte/Levi, who set the best time twice, are 0.50 seconds ahead of their German team-mates Jamanka/Burghardt. In the second race run, pilot Laura Nolte set a new track record at the Yanqing Sliding Center (1.01:01 minutes) as the last starter.
In third place Elana Meyers Taylor/Sylvia Hofmann (0.74 seconds back) from the USA will go into the second Olympic day with another two race runs. The duo set a start record (5.33 seconds) in the first Olympic heat.
Canada's Chistine de Bruin/Kristen Bujnowski (1.16 seconds back) follow in fourth place ahead of Kaillie Humphries (USA, 1.33 seconds back), the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Champion, with Kaysha Love in fifth and European Champions Kim Kalicki/Lisa Buckwitz (GER, 1.34 seconds back).
Huai Mingming/Wang Xuan and Ying Qing/Du Jiani from Olympic hosts China are currently ranked 11th and 13th. ©RWH2022
Laura Nolte (GER, European Champion 2021, World Championship bronze 2021).
"After the fourth place in the monobob I was really desperate. But today was really a good day, I am super satisfied, especially with the second run. Debbie also pushed really well."
Mariama Jamanka (GER, 2018 Olympic Champion, 2019 World Champion).
"Of course I am much happier today than after the monobob. The 2-woman bobsleigh is just more my thing. Especially the first run was good today. There were a few mistakes in the second, I still have to iron them out on the second day."
Elana Meyers Taylor (USA, 2022 World Cup overall winner, 2015+2017 World Champion).
"I'm happy with where we are right now. Sylvia and I have been working so hard together the last few weeks. Our starts were solid, but we can show more tomorrow. Maybe this is my last race, so I want to enjoy every moment!"
Photos: IBSF / Viesturs Lacis
