By Canadian Press

Canada’s Clarke leads halfway through women’s world skeleton championship

Feb 22, 2024 | 10:07 AM

WINTERBERG, Germany — Canada’s Hallie Clarke was the leader at the halfway point of the women’s skeleton competition at the bobsled and skeleton world championships.

The 19-year-old from Brighton, Ont., once again representing Canada after switching allegiances to the United States after the 2022 Olympics, posted a two-run time of one minute 57.17 seconds on Thursday.

The final two runs are scheduled for Friday.

“I’ve only had two races before here in Winterberg,” Clarke said. “I had two great starts and I think my runs were both consistent. But the fact that I’m ahead here is a total surprise for me too.”

One of the rising stars in skeleton, Clarke won the under-20 world title in Winterberg and placed 10th in her world championship debut last season while representing the United States.

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She took silver at a World Cup stop in Whistler, B.C., in 2022.

Britain’s Tabitha Stoecker was 0.03 seconds behind Clarke, with 2022 Olympic champion Hannah Neise of Germany 0.06 seconds off the pace in third.

Calgary’s Jane Channell was seventh in 1:57.38 and Mirela Rahneva of Ottawa was ninth in 1:57.43.

World Cup leader Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands led after the first run, but had problems at the start of her second run and fell to 11th.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2024.

The Canadian Press