From Igls, AUT
(November 19, 2021) – Elena Nikitina tied her own start record in Igls on her way to gold to open the 2021/2022 IBSF World Cup season.
The Russian was tied with Dutch slider Kimberley Bos for second behind Kim Meylemans of Belgium. On her second run, Nikitina set the quick time of the race and tied her start record to move into the leader’s box with just Meylemans to go.
The Belgian couldn’t quite find the pace below the Kreisel to stay ahead of either Nikitina or Bos, but had a quick enough slide to finish third for her first ever World Cup medal, a bronze.
Nikitina took gold, and Bos silver, the fourth of her career.
Russia’s Alina Tararychenkova finished a career-best fourth, just ahead of Italy’s Valentina Margaglio in fifth. Defending World Cup champion Janine Flock rounded out the top six.
Canada’s Jane Channell missed out on a top six by .3. Her combined downtime of 1:48.17 was enough to give her a seventh place, up from eighth in the first heat. Teammate Mimi Rahneva jumped up from 16th to finish 14th, tied with Anna Fernstädt.
It was a strong showing for the United States in Igls, with two sleds in the top ten. Kelly Curtis finished ninth, one spot ahead of Meg Henry in tenth. Henry’s second effort good enough to move her up from a tie for 12th.
Katie Uhlaender finished 16th on the third American sled.
Great Britain struggled to find speed on Austrian ice. Brogan Crowley finished 17th, while Laura Deas finished 20th.
Australia’s Jackie Narracott moved up from 18th in the first heat to 13th.
Results:
| Pos | Name | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
| 1 | Elena Nikitina | RUS | 9 | 5.17 | 5.11 | 53.87 | 53.62 | 1:47.49 |
| 2 | Kimberley Bos | NED | 19 | 5.31 | 5.33 | 53.87 | 53.72 | 1:47.59 |
| 3 | Kim Meylemans | BEL | 8 | 5.25 | 5.31 | 53.75 | 53.87 | 1:47.62 |
| 4 | Alina Tararychenkova | RUS | 21 | 5.30 | 5.26 | 53.96 | 53.76 | 1:47.72 |
| 5 | Valentina Margaglio | ITA | 17 | 5.16 | 5.21 | 53.97 | 53.81 | 1:47.78 |
| 6 | Janine Flock | AUT | 11 | 5.56 | 5.53 | 54.00 | 53.87 | 1:47.87 |
| 7 | Jane Channell | CAN | 13 | 5.25 | 5.27 | 54.25 | 53.92 | 1:48.17 |
| 8 | Tina Hermann | GER | 7 | 5.56 | 5.53 | 54.17 | 54.11 | 1:48.28 |
| 9 | Kelly Curtis | USA | 18 | 5.42 | 5.43 | 54.34 | 54.13 | 1:48.47 |
| 10 | Megan Henry | USA | 6 | 5.42 | 5.34 | 54.36 | 54.13 | 1:48.49 |
| 11 | Jacqueline Lölling | GER | 5 | 5.69 | 5.63 | 54.35 | 54.32 | 1:48.67 |
| 12 | Yulia Kanakina | RUS | 4 | 5.24 | 5.26 | 54.40 | 54.30 | 1:48.70 |
| 13 | Jaclyn Narracott | AUS | 15 | 5.45 | 5.46 | 54.75 | 54.06 | 1:48.81 |
| 14 | Mirela Rahneva | CAN | 12 | 5.46 | 5.50 | 54.48 | 54.38 | 1:48.86 |
| 14 | Anna Fernstädt | CZE | 10 | 5.64 | 5.69 | 54.35 | 54.51 | 1:48.86 |
| 16 | Katie Uhlaender | USA | 16 | 5.46 | 5.49 | 54.40 | 54.55 | 1:48.95 |
| 17 | Brogan Crowley | GBR | 2 | 5.28 | 5.22 | 54.60 | 54.37 | 1:48.97 |
| 18 | Hannah Neise | GER | 24 | 5.73 | 5.62 | 54.75 | 54.36 | 1:49.11 |
| 19 | Dan Zhao | CHN | 3 | 5.39 | 5.38 | 54.36 | 54.80 | 1:49.16 |
| 20 | Laura Deas | GBR | 14 | 5.41 | 5.42 | 54.87 | 54.66 | 1:49.53 |
| 21 | Alessia Crippa | ITA | 22 | 5.37 | 54.88 | |||
| 22 | Endija Terauda | LAT | 25 | 5.60 | 54.98 | |||
| 23 | Agathe Bessard | FRA | 20 | 5.63 | 55.06 | |||
| 24 | Huiyang Lin | CHN | 23 | 5.47 | 55.17 | |||
| 25 | Eunji Kim | KOR | 1 | 5.39 | 55.27 |
