Intro:

American Katie Uhlaender leads the Women's Skeleton World Championships in Lake Placid after two runs on Thursday.

Uhlaender's second run of 1 minute, 51.03 seconds put her 0.18 seconds ahead of Canadian Mellisa Hollingsworth.

World Cup champion Shelley Rudman of Great Britain is third, while Germany's Marion Thees, who is looking for her third consecutive world title, is fifth.

Script:

It was all about the women's skeleton at Lake Placid on Thursday as the FIBT Bob and Skeleton World Championships got underway.

But the 19-curve American track proved too tricky for the Virgin Islands' Katie Tannenbaum, as she lost control and crashed.

Thankfully she escaped without injuries.

And even got up, crossing the finishing line on two feet with her sled in her hand.

Germany's Marion Thees has her heart set on a third consecutive World Championship.

But she'll have her work cut out if she's to keep her crown, as she only managed fifth place on Thursday, 0.70 seconds off the leading pace.

Meanwhile newly crowned World Cup champion Shelley Rudman's in third position.

The British competitor finished her second run in a time of 1 minute 51.48 seconds, 0.45 seconds behind the leader.

Mellisa Hollingsworth, a two-time World Championship medallist, is sitting in second place.

The Canadian just 0.18 seconds behind American Katie Uhlaender

Uhlaender finished tenth in the World Cup, but she triumphed here against expectations, to take a lead of the field halfway through the competition.

Uhlaender managed a silver medal at the 2008 World Championships and is looking to go one better at Lake Placid.

Her time of 1 minute, 51.03 seconds put her on top of the standings with just Friday to go.