Germans place 1-2 midway through Olympic luge

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Natalie Geisenberger of Germany grabbed the lead Monday midway through the Olympic women's luge event.

After two of the four runs that will be made during the event, Geisenberger had a combined time of 1:39.814. She won the luge bronze medal in Vancouver and is trying to extend Germany's streak of four straight Olympic victories in the competition.

Another German, Tatjana Huefner, was second after two runs with a time of 1:40.58. American Erin Hamlin was third in 1:40.632.

The United States has never won a medal in women's luge, which became a part of the Winter Olympics program at Innsbruck in 1964.