From Sigulda, LAT
(December 31, 2021) – While Igls is the home track for Austria’s Janine Flock, the ice in Sigulda, Latvia has become just as much of a home track for the Austrian. With that, Flock won gold in Sigulda, cruising to victory over Russia’s Yulia Kanakina.
Flock was out-started handily in both heats by Kanakina by a combined .48 seconds. Flock was nearly perfect at the bottom of the track in both runs and was rewarded with enough speed to beat out Kanakina by .17 for her first gold of the 2021/2022 season.
The gold medal for Flock was the first of the season for the defending World Cup champion and her third straight in Sigulda. She has never finished off of the podium there.
Kanakina’s silver was the first of her career. She previously had won bronze twice.
World Cup leader Kimberley Bos entered the second heat in sixth place, but put down the fastest second run of the race to move into the medals with a bronze medal effort.
Belgium’s Kim Meylemans finished fourth, only .03 out of the medals, while Elena NIkitina finished fifth. Germany’s Tina Hermann had a late mistake on her second run that dropped her from fifth to sixth.
The United States’ Katie Uhlaender made her third ever start in Sigulda, but her first since 2005. She led the way in tenth place for the Americans with two strong slides. Megan Henry jumped up a handful of spots from 17th to 11th with the fastest second run of anyone who finished the first heat outside of the top ten. Kelly Curtis finished 20th in her first ever race in Sigulda after a tough second trip down dropped her from 15th.
Jane Channell had the 17th start draw in the first heat, and with that had less than ideal ice. Her second run was quick enough to hold that spot and give her the second top ten in Sigulda in her career. Teammate Mimi Rahneva jumped up from 20th in the first heat to 13th with the seventh quickest run of the second heat.
Brogan Crowley led the way for Great Britain with a 12th place effort, two spots ahead of teammate Laura Deas in 14th.
With two races to go in the 2021/2022 IBSF World Cup season, Kimberley Bos leads Janine Flock by 34 points. Tina Hermann sits third, only five points behind Flock, while Elena Nikitina is fourth, just two points behind Hermann.
Results:
| Pos | Name | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
| 1 | Janine Flock | AUT | 9 | 5.21 | 5.19 | 52.15 | 52.49 | 1:44.64 |
| 2 | Yulia Kanakina | RUS | 6 | 4.97 | 4.95 | 52.46 | 52.35 | 1:44.81 |
| 3 | Kimberley Bos | NED | 12 | 5.11 | 5.04 | 52.71 | 52.27 | 1:44.98 |
| 4 | Kim Meylemans | BEL | 8 | 5.03 | 5.01 | 52.36 | 52.65 | 1:45.01 |
| 5 | Elena Nikitina | RUS | 7 | 4.91 | 4.84 | 52.75 | 52.35 | 1:45.10 |
| 6 | Tina Hermann | GER | 4 | 5.30 | 5.29 | 52.64 | 52.53 | 1:45.17 |
| 7 | Alina Tararychenkova | RUS | 10 | 4.97 | 4.96 | 52.84 | 52.34 | 1:45.18 |
| 8 | Valentina Margaglio | ITA | 13 | 4.89 | 4.88 | 52.57 | 52.81 | 1:45.38 |
| 9 | Jane Channell | CAN | 17 | 5.04 | 5.01 | 52.87 | 52.67 | 1:45.54 |
| 10 | Katie Uhlaender | USA | 11 | 5.23 | 5.20 | 52.94 | 52.86 | 1:45.80 |
| 11 | Megan Henry | USA | 19 | 5.16 | 5.12 | 53.15 | 52.69 | 1:45.84 |
| 12 | Brogan Crowley | GBR | 23 | 5.03 | 5.03 | 53.12 | 52.76 | 1:45.88 |
| 13 | Mirela Rahneva | CAN | 14 | 5.15 | 5.16 | 53.43 | 52.64 | 1:46.07 |
| 14 | Laura Deas | GBR | 1 | 5.12 | 5.09 | 52.97 | 53.12 | 1:46.09 |
| 15 | Kellie Delka | PUR | 2 | 5.29 | 5.32 | 53.04 | 53.10 | 1:46.14 |
| 16 | Hannah Neise | GER | 5 | 5.28 | 5.28 | 53.01 | 53.19 | 1:46.20 |
| 17 | Jacqueline Lölling | GER | 15 | 5.39 | 5.40 | 53.37 | 52.91 | 1:46.28 |
| 18 | Anna Fernstädt | CZE | 20 | 5.41 | 5.40 | 53.05 | 53.33 | 1:46.38 |
| 19 | Alessia Crippa | ITA | 3 | 5.16 | 5.09 | 53.40 | 53.13 | 1:46.53 |
| 20 | Kelly Curtis | USA | 16 | 5.16 | 5.19 | 53.08 | 53.47 | 1:46.55 |
| 21 | Endija Terauda | LAT | 24 | 5.34 | 53.44 | |||
| 22 | Agathe Bessard | FRA | 26 | 5.43 | 53.51 | |||
| 23 | Dan Zhao | CHN | 22 | 5.18 | 53.58 | |||
| 24 | Nicole Silveira | BRA | 18 | 5.13 | 53.72 | |||
| 25 | Yuxi Li | CHN | 21 | 5.12 | 53.87 | |||
| 26 | Leslie Stratton | SWE | 25 | 5.47 | 54.21 |
