Fans of speed and power are going to want to tune in to the four medal runs of the women’s bobsled competition in PyeongChang. If the first four of six training runs in the competition are any indication, it’s going to be a tight race for the top three positions. Denver’s Lauren Gibbs figures to be in the mix.
Gibbs and her pilot, Elana Meyers Taylor, put together four very solid runs over the first two days of training, including a blistering run in their third time down the track that stands as the fastest so far in these 2018 Games.
Gibbs and Meyers Taylor ran fourth and seventh (tie) in their two runs on Saturday, but were less than a half-second off the pace in each run. On Sunday they put together a 50.90 run that was not only the best in that heat but also the best time posted by any women’s team so far.
They had competition hot on their tail, though, in Germany’s Stephanie Schneider (driver) and Annika Drazek at 50.93. In fact, that duo leapfrogged the Americans in the second training heat on Sunday, better by 0.08 seconds.
Both of those times are nearly a full second than the initial track record of 57.71 set by Meyers Taylor and Lolo Jones in March 2017.
The Americans had a strong showing again on Monday, with runs that ranked fourth and fifth in the final two practice heats. The Germans came in fifth and first in their final two heats.
Those two squads aren’t the only ones running fast, however.
The other U.S. team of Jamie Greubel Poser and Aja Evans have finished second, second, third, seventh, first and ninth in their six runs. The Canadian team of Kallie Humphries and Phylicia George are also dangerous medal contenders, having finished first, first, seventh, eighth and sixth in five training heats; they did not run in the sixth and final training heat.
With those four teams running so well, any one of them could be standing atop the podium when the competition is complete.
Meyers Taylor is seeking her third Olympic medal. She earned a silver in 2014 and a bronze in 2010. This is Gibbs’ first Winter Olympics.
The medal runs will consist of four total runs over two days, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Featured Image Credit: USA Bobsled and Skeleton
