×

Meyers Taylor in position at midway point

Driver Elana Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs start their first heat during the women’s two-man bobsled competition Tuesday. (AP Photo— Andy Wong)

Driver Elana Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs start their first heat during the women's two-man bobsled competition Tuesday.  (AP Photo-- Andy Wong)

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — Elana Meyers Taylor went to sleep four years ago after the first night of her Olympic competition holding the lead, and her mind couldn’t stop racing.

She plans on sleeping better this time.

Germany’s Mariama Jamanka and Lisa Buckwitz are the leaders at the midway point of the women’s bobsled competition at the Pyeongchang Games, their two-run time of 1 minute, 41.26 seconds on Tuesday night putting them 0.07 seconds ahead of Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs.

Not holding the lead at halftime didn’t seem to bother Meyers Taylor whatsoever going into Wednesday night’s final two runs.

“I’m going to go attack the track and it’s going to be what it’s going to be,” Meyers Taylor said. “Either I’m going to win a medal or I’m going to go down swinging.”

After the first two sleds, it’s chaos.

Germany’s Stephanie Schneider and Annika Drazek are third, Jamie Greubel Poser and Aja Evans are fourth for the U.S. and two-time defending gold medalist Kaillie Humphries and Phylicia George are fifth for Canada — those three sleds separated by 0.04 seconds, and none of them more than 0.34 seconds off the lead.

As was the case in two-man bobsled, a final-night shootout for gold awaits.

“We’re going to fight like hell,” said Humphries, who rallied for gold in Sochi four years ago. “Experience is always nice. It’s comforting.”

For as much attention as there is on the leaders, there seemed to be even more on the team that is last in the 20-sled field.

Nigeria made its women’s bobsled Olympic debut, the team of Seun Adigun and Akuoma Omeoga posting the slowest time in both heats and ending the night 3.50 seconds behind the leaders.

In their case, time and placing is irrelevant. Being Africa’s first bobsled team to qualify for this stage meant they won long ago.

“We’re setting the groundwork for what to build on for the country of Nigeria and the continent of Africa,” Adigun said. “With a little time, we can be just as competitive.”

Meyers Taylor and Gibbs set start records in both heats — especially impressive since Meyers Taylor, who won bronze as a push athlete in 2010 and silver as a driver in 2014, is dealing with a left Achilles strain.

But Jamanka found plenty of speed toward the bottom of the track, and took the lead after topping Meyers Taylor by 0.09 seconds in her second run.

“This is what I’ve been preparing for,” Gibbs said. “This is what it’s supposed to feel like.”

Greubel Poser and Evans were four-tenths of a second slower in their second run than the first. But confidence, much like was the case with Meyers Taylor and Gibbs, wasn’t lacking as they left the track Tuesday night.

“We’re going to give it everything, so they better watch out,” Greubel Poser said.

Greubel Poser and Evans won bronze together in Sochi four years ago. All three medalist drivers from 2014 — Humphries, Meyers Taylor and Greubel Poser — could find their way to the podium again, but only if the Germans falter a bit.

“This doesn’t worry me in the least,” Evans said. “Jamie’s like me. We kind of work well with a little fire under our butts, so I’m excited to go at it. Listen, trust me, we’ll sleep a little more peaceful than a lot of other people.”

——

More AP Olympics: https://wintergames.ap.org

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today