CALGARY, Alberta­- Olympic silver medalists Shauna Rohbock (Orem, Utah) and Valerie Fleming (Foster City, Calif.) began their quest to claim the overall title today in the first women's bobsled World Cup event of the 2007-08 season, placing only thirty-two hundredths of a second from the lead to finish in fifth. Erin Pac (Farmington, Conn.) and rookie Michelle Rzepka (Novi, Mich.) made an impressive debut together, placing eighth.

Only nine one-hundredths of a second separated first from fourth place in the first heat, and the top two sleds driven by Canadian Helen Upperton and German Cathleen Martini were tied for first with a time of 56.75.Rohbock and Fleming battled the competitive field, placing fourth in the first heat with a time of 56.84.

The final heat decided the race, and Upperton was able to beat Martini by eight one-hundredths of a second for a total time of 1:53.86 after a final run of 57.11 to take the lead. Defending World Cup Champion Sandra Kiriasis claimed the bronze medal after runs of 56.85 and 57.13 for a combined time of 1:53.98.

Home track competitors Kallie Humphries and Shelley-Ann Brown from Canada were able to nudge Rhobock and Fleming out of fourth position. The American team finished with a total time of 1:54.18 after a second heat of 57.34 for fifth place.

Pac, who made her World Cup debut last season and placed tenth at World Championships, teamed with rookie push athlete Rzepka. Rzepka began sliding two months ago, making the national team in her first year. The team finished eighth today after runs of 57.30 and 57.51 for a total time of one minute, 54.81 seconds.

For complete results of today's race, visit www.bobsleigh.com, the Web site of the Fédération International de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganning (FIBT).

Results: 1. Helen Upperton and Jenny Ciochetti (CAN I ) 1:53.86 (56.75, 57.11); 2. Cathleen Martini and Janine Tischer (GER II) 1:53.94 (56.75, 57.19); 3. Sandra Kiriasis and Berit Wiacker (GER I) 1:53.98 (56.85, 57.13);.5, Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming (USA I) 1:54.18 (56.84, 57.34);.8. Erin Pac and Michelle Rzepka (USA II) 1:54.81 (57.30, 57.51);