From Altenberg, GER
(December 3, 2021) – Tina Hermann was the track record holder in Altenberg as the IBSF World Cup tour pulled into town to start the third race of the season. Her old record fell, but over two runs the world champion showed why she’s still the best in Altenberg.
Hermann led after the first heat, with a downtime of 57.84 only .07 off of her old track record of a 57.77. On the second run that time came under attack, with seven women setting second run downtimes either at or below the old record.
Austria’s Janine Flock dropped the record to a 57.61 on her second run, and that was enough to put the defending World Cup champion into the medals, up from sixth in the first heat. Russia’s Alina Tararychenkova couldn’t quite match that time, but Tararychenkova’s first run advantage was enough to move her into the lead with only Hermann to go.
Hermann, who’d won the two previous World Championship races held in Altenberg, flexed her sliding sport muscles and beat Flock’s downtime by .09 to give her back the track record and the World Cup victory, with Tararychenkova finishing in second and Flock third.
The gold for Hermann was her 12th in World Cup competition, while the silver for Tararychenkova was her best at the top level of sliding. Flock’s bronze was the 17th of her career.
Germany’s Hannah Neise came into the second run in second place, but an early mistake cost her a medal, as she finished fourth. Belgium’s Kim Meylemans and the Netherlands’ Kimberley Bos rounded out the top six.
The United States’ Katie Uhlaender was the first woman under the track record in Altenberg, breaking Tina Hermann’s time set in the 2020 World Championships by .03. Uhlaender’s effort moved her from tied for ninth to eighth. Kelly Curtis finished 13th in her first World Cup race Altenberg. Megan Henry finished 20th to round out the American effort.
Jane Channell led the way for Canada with a top ten finish in tenth. Her second run was .41 quicker than her first to move up into tenth from 11th. Teammate Mimi Rahneva had a tough second run and fell to 18th.
Altenberg was not good to the British women. Laura Deas had scored an Altenberg gold medal in 2015, but in 2021 she failed to make the cut for the second heat and finished 21st. Teammate Brogan Crowley had trouble at the start of her run and finished back in 22nd.
Results:
| Pos | Name | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
| 1 | Tina Hermann | GER | 8 | 5.78 | 5.72 | 57.84 | 57.52 | 1:55.36 |
| 2 | Alina Tararychenkova | RUS | 12 | 5.47 | 5.38 | 58.05 | 57.62 | 1:55.67 |
| 3 | Janine Flock | AUT | 10 | 5.83 | 5.68 | 58.12 | 57.61 | 1:55.73 |
| 4 | Hannah Neise | GER | 17 | 5.84 | 5.82 | 57.87 | 57.90 | 1:55.77 |
| 5 | Kim Meylemans | BEL | 4 | 5.47 | 5.45 | 58.09 | 57.69 | 1:55.78 |
| 6 | Kimberley Bos | NED | 9 | 5.57 | 5.51 | 58.07 | 57.77 | 1:55.84 |
| 7 | Yulia Kanakina | RUS | 6 | 5.49 | 5.43 | 58.13 | 57.72 | 1:55.85 |
| 8 | Katie Uhlaender | USA | 15 | 5.68 | 5.67 | 58.18 | 57.74 | 1:55.92 |
| 9 | Jacqueline Lölling | GER | 20 | 5.99 | 5.97 | 58.16 | 57.79 | 1:55.95 |
| 10 | Jane Channell | CAN | 11 | 5.56 | 5.51 | 58.29 | 57.88 | 1:56.17 |
| 11 | Elena Nikitina | RUS | 13 | 5.37 | 5.38 | 58.62 | 57.80 | 1:56.42 |
| 12 | Anna Fernstädt | CZE | 19 | 5.85 | 5.89 | 58.37 | 58.19 | 1:56.56 |
| 13 | Kelly Curtis | USA | 14 | 5.69 | 5.70 | 58.50 | 58.42 | 1:56.92 |
| 14 | Nicole Silveira | BRA | 18 | 5.65 | 5.65 | 58.95 | 58.05 | 1:57.00 |
| 15 | Jaclyn Narracott | AUS | 2 | 5.79 | 5.80 | 58.94 | 58.66 | 1:57.60 |
| 16 | Huiyang Lin | CHN | 27 | 5.70 | 5.70 | 59.16 | 58.54 | 1:57.70 |
| 17 | Endija Terauda | LAT | 25 | 5.90 | 5.84 | 59.13 | 58.62 | 1:57.75 |
| 18 | Mirela Rahneva | CAN | 16 | 5.67 | 5.64 | 58.98 | 59.61 | 1:58.59 |
| 19 | Yanqi Zhu | CHN | 24 | 5.56 | 5.54 | 59.13 | 60.78 | 1:59.91 |
| 20 | Megan Henry | USA | 5 | 5.66 | 59.23 | |||
| 21 | Laura Deas | GBR | 1 | 5.53 | 59.46 | |||
| 22 | Agathe Bessard | FRA | 26 | 6.00 | 59.93 | |||
| 23 | Kellie Delka | PUR | 3 | 6.00 | 60.05 | |||
| 24 | Brogan Crowley | GBR | 21 | 5.56 | 60.33 | |||
| 25 | Alessia Crippa | ITA | 23 | 5.73 | 60.45 | |||
| 26 | Leslie Stratton | SWE | 22 | 6.03 | 60.52 | |||
| DNF | Valentina Margaglio | ITA | 7 | 5.39 | 5.32 | 58.18 | DNF |
