Emma Lincoln-Smith has moved past AIS/OWI team-mate Michelle Steele as Australia’s leading skeleton athlete, after producing her third top ten result of the season.

Lincoln-Smith finished in ninth place on the Torino Olympic track in Cesana to  move into seventh place on the World Cup standings with 752 points, three places and 53 points clear of Steele.

The third member of the AIS team, Melissa Hoar, sits in 17th place on the standings on 576 points.

Canadian slider Michelle Kelly leads the title chase on 1046 points, 26 clear of defending World Cup champion Katie Uhlaender of the USA.

Lincoln-Smith recorded a time of 59.85 seconds for eighth place in the opening run, but slipped back in the second run for 12th placing and an overall time of two minutes and .34 seconds, 1.83 seconds behind race winner Uhlaender.

Germany’s Anke Huber took the silver medal, with bronze going to Svetlana Trunova of Russia.

Hoar posted an 11th placing in her opening run, then also fell back with the 15th fastest time on the second run for an overall time of 2:00.96 and 13th place.

Steele started badly with 1:01:02 run for 18th place after her opening trip down the Italian course, but bounced back for ninth place in her second run to finish a spot behind Hoar in 2:01.47.