Melissa Lotholz Fights for Fifth in World Cup Monobob
IGLS, Aut.—Canada’s Melissa Lotholz edged closer to the World Cup monobob podium, sliding to fifth on Saturday in Igls, Austria.
Feeding off the energy of a handful of friends who made the trip to Austria to celebrate her 33rd birthday next week, Lotholz punched the clock at 1:52.64 for her second, top-six finish in as many races.
“I’m pleasantly surprised again,” laughed Lotholz. “Igls is such a push track and the women’s field has improved so much, especially in monobob, with so many great pushers. It’s cool to be getting in a space where I trust my skills.”
The Barrhead, Alta. resident, who became the first Canadian to earn a monobob World Cup medal in Igls in 2021, posted top 10 start times in each of her two runs down the redesigned 14-corner test.
“When I first came onto the World Cup, I had a lot of success in monobob, but everybody has stepped up their game. There are some phenomenal athletes out here,” said Lotholz. “I’m fast, but not the fastest.
“Igls is a starters track. I started well, but I didn’t start lights out. I’m proud to have beaten some though who were quicker than me at the start.”
After struggling to find the monobob podium over the last quadrennial, Lotholz made some courageous changes to her preparation over the summer to turn things around – making the decision to move her seating position further back and to invest in new runners.
“Many of my friends who were at the track today have played a big part in helping me invest in new equipment this summer. Having them here is a dream come true and just fills my cup,” added the two-time Olympian.
“It is such a gift to share this journey with people. In my personal and spiritual life, I have been listening to church songs and reading bible verses. I want my bobsleigh runs to be an expression of gratitude. I’m now going into races thinking of the process and what I can control. The key is to stay in that flow state, and we’ll see where the results go. I’m excited to know that I’m in the mix.”
American Kaysha Love slid to the top of the podium with a combined time of 1:52.02. Germany’s Laura Nolte was second at 1:52.19, while Lisa Buckwitz (Germany) placed third at 1:52.33.
Kristen Bujnowski, of Mount Brydges, Ont., put together two top five start times en route to a 10th-place finish. Bujnowski, who competed on the brakes at the 2022 Olympics, clocked a combined time of 1:52.84.
Toronto’s Cynthia Appiah rebounded after a difficult opening heat to post the fourth-fastest time in the final run to finish 14th overall (1:53.07)
Canada’s two sleds in the two-man competition did not advance to the final heat with the top 20. Taylor Austin (Lethbridge, Alta.) and Mike Evelyn O’Higgins (Ottawa) were 27th. Pat Norton (Ottawa) and Luke Stoikos (Toronto) placed 28th.
The World Cup wraps up on Sunday in Igls with the two-woman and four-man bobsleigh races.