Melissa Hoar has recorded her second top ten result for the season, finishing 10th in the World Cup in St Moritz.

Hoar’s time for her two runs down the Swiss track was 2 minutes 21.99 seconds, 1.57 seconds behind race winner Shelley Rudman of Great Britain.

AIS teammate Emma Lincoln-Smith was 2:26 behind Rudman in 12th position.

Torino Olympic team member Michelle Steele was also in action, in two Intercontinental Cup events in Calgary.

The field was strengthened by the presence of three of the top World Cup skiers, German Anja Huber, and Canadians Amy Gough and Michelle Kelly, who had dropped down to the second-tier event to try to secure an extra place for their nations at Vancouver 2010.

The trio filled the podium places in both events, Huber taking double gold, but Steele was not far out of the medals.

She finished fourth in both events, just 0.11 of a second out of third place on the first day and 0.15 away from the podium on day two.

After this event, the four female Australian athletes vying for a position in the Vancouver team were ranked by the international federation as follows:

Melissa Hoar - 12th
Emma Lincoln-Smith - 13th
Michelle Steele - 17th
Lucy Chaffer - 22nd

John Farrow was also sliding in Calgary, and finished 13th and 16th.

John has finished the season ranked 49th and teammate Anthony Deane finished 46th.

The announcement of the full Australian Olympic Winter Team for Vancouver will take place on Friday 29 January, 2010.

AOC