OTTAWA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Francesco Friedrich moved a step closer to a record-equalling fifth consecutive two-man bobsleigh title as he took the lead at the halfway stage of the event at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Championships on Friday.
Freidrich, unbeaten in two-man competition for over a year, and partner Margis Thorsten completed their two runs in a combined time of one minute 42.31 seconds at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
Justin Kripps of Canada, who shared the two-man gold medal with Friedrich at last year's Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, and teammate Cameron Stones are 0.12 seconds adrift.
Third place is currently occupied by Nico Walther and Paul Krenz of Germany, who are 0.29 seconds behind the leading duo.
Olympic two and four-man champion Friedrich entered the World Championships after having become the first to complete a perfect World Cup season in the former event.
The 28-year-old and Thorsten made a promising start with a time of 51.03 seconds in their opening run.
The German pair were 0.07 seconds behind Kripps, who produced the fastest run of the day when he stopped the clock at 50.96, a track record.
Friedrich recorded a time of 51.28 in the second, while his Canadian rival faltered slightly and fell 0.12 behind after both runs.
Chinese pair Shao Yijun and Liu Wei, who made the debut at World Championships, clocked 1:44.01, 1.70 seconds behind the leaders, ranking in 23rd place after two runs.
Another Chinese duo Sun Kaizhi and Ma Jianliang were in 27th place, timing combined 1:44.53.
It leaves the destination of the two-man world title finely poised going into the third and fourth runs, scheduled to be held on Saturday.
