Breckenridge’s Katie Uhlaender is in first place after the first of two days of racing at the skeleton world championships in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Uhlaender, who will compete in the U.S. weightlifting Olympic trials March 4 in hopes of making the team for the London Summer Games, leads by 0.18 seconds after two runs.
“It has been a very mentally challenging season pushing through and trying to keep the big picture in mind,” Uhlaender said. “My coaches have told me all season to stay present, stay in the moment, and know what I need to do. Anytime I started to get ahead of myself even on the run, I just reminded myself to stay present and handle it as it comes.”
Two more runs Friday will determine the medalists. Uhlaender claimed bronze and silver medals at the 2007 and 2008 world championships, respectively.
“I can’t tell you how fun the track is,” Uhlaender said. “Every time I turned out of a corner I was thinking of half pipe walls at home in Breckenridge.”
Mellisa Hollingsworth of Canada is in second place, and Shelley Rudman of Great Britain is in third.
“(Friday) I am going to take the same approach — stay in the moment, stay present and not get ahead of myself,” Uhlaender said. “I think that is the key to performing.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
