Intro:

Latvia's Oskars Melbardis and Daumants Dreiskens have crept to the top of two-man bobsled World Cup standings, thanks to victory in Saturday's (January 24) event in St. Moritz.

Script:

The men's two-man competition at a bright and sunny St. Moritz - and there was yet another performance from the Latvian contingent.

Fourth at the halfway stage, Ugis Zalims and Intars Dambis went top with a combined two minutes 12.40 seconds.

The Latvians remaining in front with two pairs left.

The first of those - Beat Hefti and Alex Baumann - exactly matched Zalims and Intars's time.

Last down - the fastest pair from the opener - Oskars Melbardis and Daumants Dreiskens.

And the second Latvians pair was enough for the win.

Melbardis and Dreiskens also edged two points ahead of Olympic silver medalists Hefti and Baumann in the overall standings.

The women's competition - and here, Germany were the nation to beat.

The American crew of Jamie Greubel Poser and Cherrelle Garrett took the lead with a combined mark of two minutes 15.86 seconds.

But they were left trailing by Cathleen Martini and Franziska Bertels.

Two minutes 15.60 seconds for this German pairing - but they could not hold onto their halfway-lead.

They were overhauled by compatriots Anja Schneiderheinze and Annika Drazek.

Schneiderheinze and Drazek closed the gap on overall standings leaders Elana Meyers Taylor and Lauryn Williams.

The United States crew placed fourth on Saturday.