Lolo Jones is one step closer to earning a chance for that elusive Olympic medal.
The two-time Olympic hurdler who is trying to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team for the 2014 Winter Olympics next month in Sochi, Russia, teamed with top U.S. driver Elana Meyers to finish second at a World Cup race in Winterberg, Germany on Sunday.
Meyers, who was the driver, and Jones, the push athlete, finished with a two-run time of 1 minute, 55. 42 seconds, just one-hundredth of a second behind Germany's Sandra Kiriasis and Franziska Fritz, according to OlympicTalk.NBCSports.com. Meyers and Jones were fifth after the first run but made up precious time in their second attempt.
The American team improved its start time - which NBCSports reported is the time the push athletes affect most - by 0.12 seconds (from 5.64 seconds on its first start to 5.52 seconds on the second). Meyers, however, blamed herself for the team's slower start on the initial run.
"I made a mistake on the first push by running too short," Meyers said, according to the Des Moines Register. "Lolo followed me like a good brakeman should, and it resulted in a slower push."
The U.S. team of Jamie Greubel, who paired with top U.S. push athlete Aja Evans, led after the first run but fell to fourth after the second effort. The third U.S. sled - consisting of drive Jazmine Fenlator and push athlete and three-time Olympic sprinter Lauren Williams - finished ninth.
Meyers and Evans are expected to pair together for the Olympics. Greubel's regular push athlete, Katie Eberling, did not compete in the race. NBCSports.com has reported previously that Jones, Williams and Emily Azevedo are competing for the final push spot, although after Sunday's race, it said that two push athlete positions still may be up in the air.
The World Cup races continue this upcoming weekend in St. Mortitz, Switzerland, and the Olympic team will be announced after the World Cup race in Igls, Austria in two weeks.
Meyers lauded Jones for her competitiveness on Sunday.
"Lolo definitely showed her fight by dropping a few hundredths in the second heat," Meyers said. "Coming back and doing that is impressive."
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