KOENIGSSEE, Germany — Canadian luger Alex Gough won the silver medal in the women’s race Saturday at a luge World Cup event.
The Calgary native finished 0.349 seconds behind Germany’s Natalie Geisenberger (one minute 41.411 seconds), who won her fifth race on the World Cup circuit this season.
"Definitely it was a great way to start 2015," Gough said after picking up her 20th World Cup medal. "I was in a good position after my first run and had a decent second run so overall it was a solid performance."
Gough was also second on her home track in Calgary when the three-time Olympian made her season-debut three weeks ago before the holidays.
"We had a nice break, but it was good to get back at it this week. It was important for me to get on the podium right away and keep the ball rolling."
Germany’s Dajana Eltberger was third, 0.460 behind Geisenberger.
Emily Sweeney of the United States was fourth, ahead of Germans Tatjana Huefner and Anke Wischnewski.
Kim McRae finished in ninth spot, while fellow Calgarian Arianne Jones was 10th.
Gough was also second on her home track in Calgary, when the three-time Olympian made her season-debut three weeks ago before the holidays.
"We had a nice break, but it was good to get back at it this week," she said. "It was important for me to get on the podium right away and keep the ball rolling."
Geisenberger leads the standings at the halfway stage with 570 points, ahead of Huefner on 390 and Eltberger on 371.
Gough is sixth with 270 points.
Meanwhile, Canada’s doubles team of Tristan Walker and Justin Snith dropped into ninth spot. Coming off a bronze-medal finish of their own at home in Calgary, the duo clocked a time of 1:42.096.
Germany’s Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt finished on top at 1:40.810. Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken, also of Germany, were second with a time of 1:40.995. Austria’s Peter Penz and Georg Fischler slid to the bronze medal at 1:41.034.
The men’s competition and a team relay was scheduled for Sunday.
— With files from The Associated Press.