Canada’s Cynthia Appiah Fights for Fifth in Monobob World Cup
ALTENBERG, Ger.—Cynthia Appiah fought back to finish fifth after a disappointing opening run in World Cup monobob racing on Saturday in Altenberg, Germany.
“I’m beyond disappointed with myself over how I performed in the first run. I underestimated how hard the ice was. It was very different from training, and that, coupled with errors on every corner made for the worst run I’ve put down,” said Toronto’s Appiah.
The 32-year-old gathered herself between heats and salvaged a fifth-place finish at 2:02.42 with a solid second run where she posted the top start time at 6.13, and the third quickest down time at 1:00.90 on the 17-corner track.
“That’s not the kind of performance I wanted to put down but that’s sport for you,” said Appiah, who sits third overall in the women’s monobob standings with three podiums this season. “I’m happy that I battled back and I’m looking forward to cleaning it up for tomorrow, and the keeping momentum for the World Championships.”
American Kaillie Humphries won the race with a time of 2:00.61. Germany’s Laura Nolte claimed the silver with a time of 2:01.13. Australia’s Breeana Walker was third at 2:01.89.
Calgary’s Bianca Ribi also had a tough day on the challenging 1,413-metre icy chute, placing 14th at 2:06.38.
Calgary’s Taylor Austin teamed up with Cyrus Gray (Duncan, B.C.) in the lone Canadian sled for the two-man race.
The 32-year-old Austin and Gray finished 17th with a time of 1:53.58.
Germany’s Johannes Lochner and Erec Bruckert won the two-man bobsleigh race with a time of 1:51.50. Switzerland’s Michael Vogt and Sandro Michel were second at 1:51.55.
Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schueller took third spot after stopping the clock at 1:51.88 over two runs.
The two-woman and four-man bobsleigh races will take place on Sunday in Altenberg.
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