November 22 , 2001
Bobsleigh Canada

Christina Smith clinches berth on 2002 Olympic Team

CALGARY, November 22, 2001 - Christina Smith, 32 of Calgary, with brakeman Lesa Stringer, 33, of North Battleford, SK, rocketed her Canada 2 sled to a fourth place finish with a combined time of 1:49.11, only 0.08 seconds behind the bronze medal winner, in today's fifth Women's Bobsleigh World Cup in Igls, Austria. Smith's top-six finish assures that she will
compete for Canada in the 2002 Salt Lake Games in February.

Germany 1's Sandra Prokoff and Germany 2's Susi Erdmann took gold and silver. Prokoff and brakeman Ulrike Holzner set start and track records. Erdmann and brakeman Birgit Brodbeck, moved up from fifth place after the first heat. Jean Racine and Jennifer Davidson of the USA took the bronze.

Christine Fraser, 34, of Water Valley, Alberta, in the Canada 1 sled with brakeman Paula McKenzie, 31, of Calgary, crashed in corner 11in the second heat doing more than 110 km/hr, yet managed to place 15th overall with a
combined time of 1:50.33. "We went down fighting," she said this evening. "We're a little sore, a little bruised, but nothing is going to keep us away from tomorrow's race."

"We finally put two and two together," Smith said. "I know this track well. I know where the fast lines are and how to keep the speed. I did what the coaches told me to do. Ivo Ferriani and Sigi Feuser helped instill the proper lines and it all worked. Lesa and I are still pretty bruised up from our crash in Königssee, but my heart is healed and my mind is as clear and focussed as ever." Starting 13th in the first heat, Smith's piloting skills helped overcome weak 11th and 13th place push starts to finish fourth overall.

After five World Cup events, Smith sits ninth in the standings with 102 points; Fraser is right on her heels in tenth spot with 101 points.

Racing continues tomorrow in Igls with the 6th Women's Bobsleigh World Cup.

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