Photo credit: Getty Images

ST MORITZ, Switzerland (January 14, 2022) – It was a race within a race in the women’s skeleton World Cup in St. Mortiz this morning as athletes competed one last time to garner points towards Olympic qualification. Kelly Curtis (Princeton, N.J.) finished sixth in her ninth career World Cup race to lead the U.S. team today. Four-time Olympians Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) finished ninth, and Megan Henry (Roxbury, Conn.) was 15th.

“St. Moritz is a magical place,” Curtis said. “My outlet this week was on my sled. It’s been really stressful this week, but I was able to relax when I was sliding. I just wanted to get through today, and now I want to cheer on our guys as they compete and enjoy St. Moritz before the team is announced tomorrow.”

Curtis, a member of the U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete program, was ranked third amongst the Americans going into the finale today. Her race runs were only her seventh and eighth runs ever on the all-natural track, but Curtis’ inexperience didn’t hold her back from challenging for a top six finish, and potentially an Olympic spot.

Curtis posted start times of 5.48 and 5.41 seconds, 15th and 11th of the field, for the eighth and sixth fastest runs of 1:09.50 and 1:09.37. She finished sixth with a combined time of 2:18.87 to lead the Americans.

Uhlaender was in fifth place after a first run of 1:09.42, but she fell back four spots with the 12th ranked time of 1:09.58 in the second heat. The four-time Olympian finished ninth with a two-run total of 2:19.00, but it was likely enough to punch her ticket to her fifth Olympics.

Henry clocked a total time of 2:19.88 for 15th place. She was consistent off the block with top-10 ranked start times of 5.35 and 5.37 seconds. Henry, a member of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, raced to the finish in 1:09.77 and 1:10.11 for the 12th and 16th best times of the field.

The U.S. has two quota spots in the women’s skeleton competition at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The USA Skeleton Olympic Team will be named tomorrow.

Australian Jacyln Narracott was today’s winner with a total time of 2:17.56. Kimberly Bos from the Netherlands was just 0.06 seconds off the pace to secure the silver medal, while Mirela Rahneva from Canada claimed bronze in 2:18.22.

The men’s skeleton competition is up next at 1 p.m. local time. Streaming will be available via desktop at olympics.com/en/live/, and via mobile, tablet and connected television platforms on the Olympic Channel app. Check local listings for broadcast times on the Olympic Channel and OlympicChannel.com.

For media inquiries, please contact USABS Marketing and Communications Director Amanda Bird at amanda.bird@usabs.com.

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Results

1. Jaclyn Narracott (AUS) 2:17.56 (1:08.72, 1:08.84);

2. Kimberly Bos (NED) 2:17.62 (1:08.89, 1:08.73);

3. Mirela Rahneva (CAN) 2:18.22 (1:09.23, 1:08.99);

6. Kelly Curtis (USA) 2:18.87 (1:09.50, 1:09.37);

9. Katie Uhlaender (USA) 2:19.00 (1:09.42, 1:09.58);

15. Megan Henry (USA) 2:19.88 (1:09.77, 1:10.11);

About USA Bobsled/Skeleton

USA Bobsled/Skeleton (USABS), based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. For more information, please visit the USABS website at www.usabs.com. Individuals interested in becoming a bobsled or skeleton athlete can visit www.usabobsledskeleton.com.

Curtis has career best World Cup finish of sixth place to lead U.S. in finale

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