SHELLEY Rudman sits 11th after the first two runs in the Winter Olympic skeleton.

Rudman, a silver medalist at the 2006 Games and the partner of Rossendale skeleton star Kristan Bromley, was 12th after the opening run but improved second time round to climb to 11th ahead of Friday's final two runs.

Her Great Britain team-mate Lizzy Yarnold will head into the final day in gold medal position and a lead of almost half a second.

Yarnold clocked 58.46 seconds on her second run to lead by 0.44secs from Pikus-Pace and by 0.55secs from Russian challenger Elena Nikitina.

Yarnold’s first run was marginally quicker at 58.43secs - a track record - but after the first run she only led by 0.05 of a second from Nikitina, who fell away a little in the lower part of her second run.

Rudman clocked 58.43 seconds on her opening run and 59.33 seconds second time round.

"I'm pleased, it wasn't too bad, I was a little off my lines," said Rudman after her second run.

"On the first run it was almost pre-race nerves but I'm happy with the second run. I made a big mistake on the first run, a real time bleeder. I'm really pleased my start improved for the second run. I'm happy, I just hope to move up a little bit.

"Tomorrow I'd like to have a tidy run and walk off the track happy. It's been a difficult two years getting here."

Bromley begins his campaign tomorrow and concludes on Saturday.