Kripps drives to a career first in bobsled
LAKE PLACID, N.Y.— Canada’s Justin Kripps won his first career four-man bobsled World Cup race Saturday, rallying his team back from fourth place to the top the podium.
Kripps, of Summerland, B.C., finished his second run in 54.75 seconds to move into top spot.
Kripps, along with Cam Stones, of Whitby, Saskatoon’s Ben Coakwell and Calgary’s Ryan Sommer were in fourth entering the final run.
“I thought after the first run we had a good shot,” Kripps said. “I knew the boys could push faster than we did in the first run, and they did. I’m just so happy for all the team.”
Latvia’s Oskars Kibermanis drove to the silver medal, and Russia’s Maxim Andrianov was third.
Germany’s Francesco Friedrich missed the podium for the first time all season, coming in fourth. He remained comfortably in the World Cup four-man overall points lead with one race remaining.
SKI CROSS: Toronto’s Kevin Drury raced onto his first World Cup ski cross podium of the season, winning bronze on Saturday to open a doubleheader in Feldberg, Germany.
Drury survived contact and a near-spill early on in the final to cross the line fourth. The jury reviewed the race and bumped Drury to bronze while disqualifying Switzerland’s Alex Fiva.
Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., was the only other Canadian to race in a big final, finishing fourth. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Russell Kennedy of Canmore, Alta., raced to a career-best 12th place in a World Cup crosscountry skate-ski sprint in Cogne, Italy, on Saturday.
His previous best World Cup finish was 36th in Quebec City.
Alex Harvey, of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., was 48th, while Evan Palmer-Charrette, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 59th.