On a roll at the right time
After struggling much of the season, Burlington native Jesse Lumsden and his skip Justin Kripps rebounded with a silver medal at last weekend’s two-man World Bobsleigh Championships in Konigsee, Germany.
And Hamilton’s Nick Poloniato, a world championship rookie, shocked the veteran-laden sport, driving to a fifth-place finish with crew Neville Wright of Edmonton.
The pair registered the third-fastest times down the run in both the second and fourth of the four heats. Their combined time of 3:18.23 missed the podium by just .27 of a second.
Germany’s Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis dominated the twoman and finished 1.20 seconds ahead of Kripps and Lumsden, as the two Canadian sleds were the only North Americans among the top six.
“We started in 11th spot (on the second day of racing) and came out swinging right of the gate,” Lumsden said on the Bobsleigh Canada website. “Our pushes were better and Justin had four of the most consistent runs he has had all year.
“Consistency is king. The start, the drive — it is all about consistency. It feels great.”
The four-man event at the World Championships is set for Friday in Konigsee.