Weston builds huge skeleton lead

Matt Weston of Britain has a lead of 0.89 seconds at the halfway point of the world skeleton championships, after he cruised through his first two runs on Thursday. He will try to finish off the title with two more runs at Mount Van Hoevenberg on Friday, with Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands the leader at the midpoint of the women’s skeleton race.

Weston’s 0.89-second lead might not sound like much. But in a sliding sport, where races are often decided by hundredths of a second, it’s an eternity.

“On his day, he’s nearly unbeatable,” said British teammate Marcus Wyatt, who was in second place.

Sure enough, Thursday was Weston’s day. Friday might be his day as well; only two runs separate the two-time defending World Cup overall champion from his second world title. Only an enormous mistake would cost Weston the crown at this point.

Young fans watch the action at the start ramp during Thursdays men’s skeleton race at the IBSF World Championships being held in Lake Placid. The event features the world’s top skeleton and bobsled athletes and runs through March 16 at Mount Van Hoevenberg. (Provided photo — Lou Reuter)

“It’s not a bad day,” Weston said. “But I’ve had enough experience now racing four heats over two days to know I can’t take my foot off the gas. … There’s more in there.”

Germany has the third and fourth spots in the men’s race, with Axel Jungk (1:50.03) and Christopher Grotheer (1:50.05). Realistically, Wyatt, Jungk and Grotheer are all racing for the silver medal now on a track that might play host to the Olympic races next winter if a facility being built in Italy isn’t finished in time.

A pair of Chinese sliders — Yin Zheng and Chen Wenhao — are fifth and sixth, followed by Austin Florian of the U.S. in seventh and Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine eighth. Florian tied a 9-year-old start record at Mount Van Hoevenberg with a push of 4.70 seconds at the top of the ramp.

“I knew it had it in me,” Florian said. “I was just wondering when it was going to come out.”

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Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands begins her first run Thursday in the women’s skeleton competition at the IBSF World Championships in Lake Placid. Bos led after the opening two heats with the third and fourth runs slated for today to determine the medals. (Provided photo — Lou Reuter)

Bos leads at women’s midway point

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To illustrate how much of a gap 0.89 seconds usually is in sliding, consider the difference between the men’s and women’s races.

There’s an 0.89-second gap between first and second in the men’s race — and there’s an 0.89-second gap between first and 14th place in the women’s race. Bos leads with a time of 1:50.87, with Anna Fernstaedt of the Czech Republic second (1:51.06) and defending world champion Hallie Clarke of Canada (1:51.09) third.

“This is really cool,” Bos said. “And it’s really close, which is the best racing.”

Daniel Barefoot of the United States begins his first run Thursday in the men’s four-heat skeleton competition at the iBSF World Championships in Lake Placid. Barefoot is in 14th place in a men’s field of 29 sleds with the final two runs scheduled for today. (Provided photo — Lou Reuter)

The top U.S. slider is tied for fourth; Mystique Ro finished her two runs in 1:51.20, the same time as Nicole Rocha Silveira of Brazil. And Clarke — who is only 20 — is within striking distance of becoming the third woman to win back-to-back world titles.

“I’m really proud of myself for being able to calm my nerves down because there’s a different amount of pressure that comes with trying to defend a title versus just going into a world championships,” Clarke said. “But I’m really happy with my second run. I made some corrections from my first and I’m really relying on that experience from last year to guide me through this.”