British skeleton star Shelley Rudman won World Cup gold and claimed a new record on the same track where she took an Olympic silver medal in 2006.

Rudman's second run set a track record of 58.71 seconds at Cesana, in Italy.

"The track's nice, it's a good feeling and I corrected a lot of the mistakes I had in 2006," Rudman told BBC Sport.

The Wiltshire slider, 28, now leads the overall World Cup standings after a second-place finish in Lake Placid and fourth place in Park City.

Fellow Briton Amy Williams came 10th, with team-mate Donna Creighton 16th.

"I was going really well through training, it was just if I could put two good runs in on the race day and luckily, I just connected again," said Rudman.

I'm in a good position right now, but it doesn't mean to say I'm going to win the Olympics Shelley Rudman

"I've had three really good World Cups so far, so I'm halfway through them and doing OK.

"I just need to keep going, keep my feet on the ground and keep it all consistent, because I'm sure there's going to be a bogey result out there at some point."

Rudman, from Pewsey, said she had not expected to top the World Cup standings, and played down her Olympic medal chances on the back of her success.

"In North America I've not been strong historically, and I'm just a bit disappointed with my first result in Park City because I should have done better, but so far I'm really enjoying sliding.

WORLD RANKINGS After three World Cup events 1. Shelley Rudman (GB) 627 pts 2. Mellisa Hollingsworth (Can) 625 3. Amy Gough (Can) 554

"I'm in a good position right now, but it doesn't mean to say I'm going to win the Olympics. It's a completely different ball game, and (the Whistler venue is) a very new track to me, but so far, so good."

In the men's event, held earlier on Friday, Britain's Kristan Bromley - Rudman's partner - finished 16th. Gold was won by Jon Montgomery of Canada.

Bromley lies ninth in the world rankings, which are led by Latvia's Martins Dukurs.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version