Kim Meylemans (27) started well at the World Championships in Winterberg on Thursday. After the first day, the Neeroeterse is in fourth place, 9 hundredths of a second behind leader Hallie Clarke, and is therefore fully committed to a medal on Friday.
Fog and rain hit Winterberg on Thursday, making the Veltins EisArena wet and a lot slower than normal. These difficult (weather) conditions led to several surprises on the first day of the World Cup. For example, the three Germans were not in the top six on their home track in the first run. A crooked situation that Neise and co corrected in the second run. The biggest surprise, however, came from Hallie Clarke. The Canadian, barely 19 years old, is actually in the lead after two of the four runs.
Kim Meylemans also had a strong first day. In the first run, the Neeroeterse was allowed to start second, an advantage because the ice was still quite good at that time. The Little Belgian settled nicely at the front of the peloton with a fourth place. A place she held in the second run. Good, because this time Kim only took action at the end – on very bad and slow ice. The European champion follows leader Clarke by 9 hundredths of a second and will therefore play for the medals on Friday (runs at 10 am and 11.45 am). (jus)
