Three Canadian Women Slide into Top-16 at Luge World Championships

ALTENBERG, Ger.—Caitlin Nash slid to a career-best 13th-place finish to lead three Canadian women into the top-16 at the Luge World Championships in Altenberg, Germany on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Nash had two consistent runs down the 15-corner track to shatter her previous-best finish on the elite circuit  with a combined time of 1:44.785.

“I finally put down two really good runs, which was my goal for this race,” said Nash, of Whistler, B.C. “I’m happy with the position I’m walking away with and super proud of my teammates.”

Nash had good company in the top half of the leaderboard.

The lone Olympian in the group, Trinity Ellis of Pemberton, B.C., clocked-in at 1:44.791 for 14th spot. Ellis was just inside the top-10 after the opening heat, but struggled to find a clean line in her second attempt down the technical 1,220-metre Altenberg track and dropped five spots.

“My first run I am really happy with but my second run I had a couple of little mistakes,” said Ellis. “Overall, I had some huge problems leading into the race so I’m just happy to put down two pretty good runs and show some speed.”

The third speed queen from Canada’s West Coast, Embyr-Lee Susko, chalked up a 16th place finish in her first World Championships. The 19-year-old from Whistler, B.C., who has been posting top results for the Canadians in her rookie year on the World Cup, was sitting in 12th place at the midway point of the race, but also struggled in the final heat.

“I couldn’t quite find the speed in the second run, but I put down two pretty good runs, so I am happy,” said Susko. “It was super fun to debut at my first World Championships.”

Austria’s Lisa Schulte was crowned World Champion after stopping the clock at 1:43.901. Germany’s Julia Taubitz placed second at 1:44.005. Austria’s Madeleine Egle grabbed the final spot on the podium, taking the bronze medal in a time of 1:44.076.

Complete Results from the Luge World Championships