(L-R) Mariama Jamanka and Annika Drazek of Germany, Kehri Jones, Elana Meyers, Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans pose on the podium for women's bobsled at the IBSF World Cup on Jan. 13, 2017 in Winterberg, Germany.
Less than a week before competing at the women's bobsled world cup in Winterberg, Germany, Elana Meyers Taylor lost her grandfather. Less than 24 hours before taking the starting line, she took to Instagram.
"Racing tomorrow with a heavy heart as I remember my Grandpa Don. He loved bobsled and watched every race," Meyers Taylor posted. "He'll be with me and [brakeman Kehri Jones] as we take the ice... I love you Grandpa Don. May you fly forever!"
Grandpa Don was really flying on Friday, as Meyers Taylor slid to her third straight women's bobsled world cup medal and her first gold of the season.
Sitting in third after the first run, Meyers Taylor and Jones were just 0.06 seconds off the lead and 0.01 seconds behind compatriots Jamie Greubel Poser and Aja Evans, who sat in second. It took a blistering second run of 57.13 seconds to vault Meyers Taylor into first place with a total time of 1:54.43. Mariama Jamanka and Annika Drazek of Germany edged into second place in 1:54.50, and Greubel Poser and Evans rounded out the podium in third in 1:54.67.
Greubel Poser's bronze marked her third medal in the four races held so far this season and a return after finishing fifth last wek in Altenberg, Germany
Meyers Taylor took silver in Altenberg, overcoming a crash in practice the day before competition. She earned her first medal of the season - a silver - at the second world cup of the season in Lake Placid, New York, after a crash and a disqualification to open the season in Whistler, British Columbia. She currently sits sixth in the overall season standings with 645 points. With her gold in Lake Placid and bronze in Whistler, Greubel Poser is second overall with 809 points; Canada's Kaillie Humphries, who was fifth Friday, holds the top spot with 834 points.
