Minichiello lies second at World Championships

GREAT Britain's Nicola Minichiello is second at the halfway stage of the World Championships, just 0.4 seconds off the lead.

PERFECTLY POISED: Britain's Nicola Minichiello lies second at halfway stage in Lake Placid (Getty Images)

Britain's No.1 driver Minichiello, ably assisted by brakewoman Gillian Cooke, finished the World Cup season in third place but she has gone one better in Lake Placid.

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Only the USA's Shauna Rohbock was able to produce a quicker time of 1:54.05 minutes, courtesy of a storming second run.

Rohbock was third after the first heat in Lake Placid, posting a time of 57.00 seconds, but clocked 57.05 secs in the second outing to take the lead.  

Defending World and Olympic Champion Sandra Kiriasis of Germany, who won the 2008-2009 World Cup title, struggled on the first day, and sits in sixth place, 0.38 secs off the pace. 

German duo Cathleen Martini and Janine Tischer are currently in third with two more heats to go, 0.15 secs behind Rohbock.