Lizzy Yarnold insists she is not getting carried away despite leading at the halfway stage of the skeleton World Championships in Winterberg, Germany.
Having collected European gold already this year to add to the Olympic and World Cup titles she claimed in a stellar 2014, Yarnold arrived in Germany with her sights set on the only major crown yet to find its way into her grasp.
Her previous best at a World Championships was the bronze medal she won back in 2012, but if her first two runs of this year’s event is anything to go by then that could all be about to change.
Yarnold posted the two fastest times of the day – including a new track record of 57.44 seconds in her first run – as she came home in 1:55.06 minutes to hold the lead overnight.
But with two runs still to go and Canadian Elisabeth Vathje just 0.07 seconds behind in second, Yarnold is keeping the champagne well and truly on ice.
“It’s been a great race so far,” she said. “But nothing has been decided yet, there are still two runs to go tomorrow. Things could really get exciting.
Currently sitting third in the standings 0.39 seconds behind is German Jacqueline Loelling, but there is still plenty for Great Britain to celebrate with all three of their sliders in the top ten.
Rose McGrandle is the next highest Brit behind Yarnold in sixth, while Laura Deas rounded off a great first day as she is four places back.
© Sportsbeat 2015