GB women 12th at World Champs

Great Britain’s Mica McNeill and Natalie DeRatt finished 12th in the women’s bobsleigh at the World Championships on Saturday.

McNeill and DeRatt were just 0.03 seconds behind the nearest sled and only 33 hundredths outside the top 10 in Igls, Austria.

The British pair started the day in 11th spot after Friday’s first two runs and were 12th and 13th in Runs 3 and 4 respectively.

They finished in a time of 3 minutes 34.97 seconds, 0.34 seconds ahead of the 13th-placed sled in an 18-strong field.

“This sport is about small margins and Mica and Natalie were very close to recording a top ten finish in their first season together,” said GB Bobsleigh Performance Director, Gary Anderson.

“They produced consistent starts and consistent run times and were unlucky to lose 11th spot late in the final run.

“They have worked hard all season and I am sure they will have learnt a lot from this experience.”

Anja Schneiderheinze led from start to finish to take gold for Germany, a season after settling for silver in Winterberg and a full 11 years since she won the World Championships as a brakeman ahead of GB’s Nicola Minichiello and Jackie Davies in Calgary.

Canada’s World Cup points leader, Kaillie Humphries, took silver, with reigning champion Elana Meyers Taylor claiming bronze.

The bobsleigh action continues tomorrow when the 2-man event concludes from 8.30am GMT. The bobsleigh and skeleton team event then brings the curtain down on the first weekend's racing at 2pm GMT.

Results

1 A Schneiderheinze & A Drazek (GER) 3 minutes 32.38 seconds; 2 K Humphries & M Lotholz (CAN) 3-32.71; 3 E Meyers Taylor & L Gibbs (USA) 3-32.87; 12 M McNeill & N DeRatt (GB) 3-43.97