McIvor and Serwa safely through as Holmlund tops ski cross qualifying

From Sportsbeat Staff, in Whistler

ANNA Holmlund led the qualifiers for the women's freestyle skiing ski cross event, with Canadians Ashleigh McIvor and Kelsey Serwa tucked in second and fourth at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

LEADING LADY: Sweden's Anna Holmlund is in fine form during ski cross qualifying at Cypress Mountain (Getty Images)

There were no big surprises in the qualification round with only three competitors failing to progress to Tuesday afternoon's knock-out stages.

France's World Cup champion Ophelie David set an early marker of 1:18.14 minutes and while the 33-year old was eventually pipped by five other competitors, she can rest assured of a red bib for the knockout stages.

David is the only competitor ahead of home favourites McIvor and Serwa in this season's World Cup standings and the Canadians impressed in qualifying, with Serwa fourth and world champion McIvor just 0.02 off the top in second.

Holmlund is a two-time World Cup winner this season and will be difficult to beat in the knock-out stages if she can get to the front. The 22-year old Swede eventually finished with a time of 1:17.15.

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Sarah Sauvey was one of the unlucky three not to reach the knock-out stages.

The 26-year old finished in 1:24.52, missing out by 1.69 seconds.

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Follow day 12 of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver