The AIS skeleton squad has wrapped up its five week North America campaign with a successful weekend of racing on the 2002 Olympic Games bobsleigh track.
The AIS skeleton squad has wrapped up its five week North America campaign with a successful weekend of racing on the 2002 Olympic Games bobsleigh track.
For the third America’s Cup in a row, the squad has achieved three top 15 placings, an impressive return given the novice status of the ten women.
In Park City this past weekend, former national 100m sprint finalist Jessica Knox claimed her first top ten result with a ninth placing in Friday’s opening race. Michelle Steele just missed a top ten with 11th place while 2004 national 200m bronze medallist Bindee Goon Chew was in 15th.
On the second day Emma Lincoln-Smith continued her impressive form in skeleton, finishing in eighth place after a superb second run.
Although she was lying in 17th place after the first round, Lincoln-Smith flew down the second run in the third fastest time to claim her second top ten result of the North American series.
The result was all the more impressive as she had missed several vital days of training and track familiarisation through concussion.
Melissa Hoar finished in 12th place, Bindee Goon Chew in 14th and Michelle Steele 19th.
Knox and Goon Chew also recorded the fastest start times of the Park City meet.
Project coordinator Jason Gulbin has been delighted with the North American results, the squad exceeding targets in top 20 and top 10 placings, and generally meeting start time expectations.
The squad now returns to Australia and crunch time as five women are selected to continue into the second phase of the AIS research project.
For the third America’s Cup in a row, the squad has achieved three top 15 placings, an impressive return given the novice status of the ten women.
In Park City this past weekend, former national 100m sprint finalist Jessica Knox claimed her first top ten result with a ninth placing in Friday’s opening race. Michelle Steele just missed a top ten with 11th place while 2004 national 200m bronze medallist Bindee Goon Chew was in 15th.
On the second day Emma Lincoln-Smith continued her impressive form in skeleton, finishing in eighth place after a superb second run.
Although she was lying in 17th place after the first round, Lincoln-Smith flew down the second run in the third fastest time to claim her second top ten result of the North American series.
The result was all the more impressive as she had missed several vital days of training and track familiarisation through concussion.
Melissa Hoar finished in 12th place, Bindee Goon Chew in 14th and Michelle Steele 19th.
Knox and Goon Chew also recorded the fastest start times of the Park City meet.
Project coordinator Jason Gulbin has been delighted with the North American results, the squad exceeding targets in top 20 and top 10 placings, and generally meeting start time expectations.
The squad now returns to Australia and crunch time as five women are selected to continue into the second phase of the AIS research project.
