Matt Weston underlined his standing because the world’s greatest skeleton pilot by setting the observe document on his option to taking a big midway lead on the Winter Olympics.
The 2-time world champion – Staff GB’s greatest medal hope in Milan-Cortina -put down a press release second run to open a bonus of 0.30 seconds over the sector, with two medal-deciding runs to come back on Friday.
Weston was the one slider below 56 seconds as he clocked 55.88secs in warmth two, so as to add to his 56.21secs in run one on the brand new Cortina sliding observe.
After a irritating opening run, which started with a expensive bump in opposition to the wall close to the highest of the observe, Weston was clearly aggravated together with his efficiency.
However, below stress from two German sliders, he tidied up these errors with a slick and extremely spectacular second run, shaving 0.33secs off his opening effort, to provide him an total time of 1 minute 52.09secs.
Given skeleton medals are sometimes determined by hundredths of a second, Weston’s fist pumps on the finish of his second run weren’t solely an indication of his elation at a cleaner run, but in addition marking the importance of his benefit.
Compatriot Marcus Wyatt sits seventh with a mixed time of 1:53.21 – 0.66secs outdoors of the medal locations.
Wyatt, 34, was additionally a robust medal contender coming into the Video games however has struggled on the technical Cortina observe and a podium-finish already looks as if a tricky ask.
Axel Jungk, silver medallist in Beijing 4 years in the past, is in second place with a time of 1:52.39 whereas fellow German and defending Olympic champion Christopher Grotheer is third with 1:52.55.
The ultimate two heats will take be proven dwell on the BBC from 18:30 GMT on Friday with all 4 run instances added collectively to provide an total consequence.
