LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Noelle Pikus-Pace glanced at the results and beamed as she always seems to after a World Cup skeleton race.
Canada, host of the upcoming Winter Olympics, was atop the podium at Mount Van Hoevenberg on Friday, and Mellisa Hollingsworth’s triumph over Shelley Rudman of Great Britain gave Canada its third medal in the first two races of the season.
“I think they’re trying to send a message,” said Pikus-Pace, the top U.S. finisher after a solid fifth. “This season is really critical. Everybody is out for that gold medal and coming out strong. This is the most competitive season we’ve had since I’ve been a part of the sport. It’s very, very tough competition.”
Hollingsworth, from Eckville, Alta., led after a first-heat run of 57.54 seconds and finished the two-heat race in one minute 54.85 seconds to edge Rudman by 0.23 seconds.
Rudman finished just 0.05 seconds ahead of world champion Marion Trott of Germany, who took the bronze in 1:55.13.
“We definitely have come out with a great start, having two podiums,” said Hollingsworth, who was third last week at Park City, just behind silver-medal-winning teammate Amy Gough of Abbotsford, B.C. “It’s a great start to hopefully a great ending to the season.”
Gough finished sixth in 1:56:01 while Michelle Kelly of Fort St. John, B.C., was seventh in 1:56:06.
Anja Huber of Germany, who won the season-opener, did not compete because of an ankle injury.
Last week’s World Cup opener was trimmed to one run because of heavy snow, and the sliders were thrown another curve on Friday with a soft track. A steady overnight rain in the snowless Adirondack Mountains and mild temperatures left some water on the course and made the race much different from the fast conditions that prevailed during a week of training.
“It was really difficult,” Trott said. “The track was slower. The timing was not so OK, but the problem was for all the athletes. I’m happy with the results.”