Senior airman Jasmine Jones, partner stand third halfway through 2-woman bobsled

United States’ Kaillie Armbruster Humphries, right, and Jasmine Jones begin their first run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (Aijaz Rahi/AP)

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Bobsled isn’t won in one heat, as Air Force Senior Airman Jasmine Jones and pilot Kaillie Armbruster Humphries showcased on Friday evening at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

During their first run during the two-woman bobsled at the Cortina Sliding Centre, the Americans set a track record and held a slim advantage over the field of 25 teams.

Struggles on the second run dropped Jones and Armbruster Humphries from pole position into third place with a time of 1 minute, 54.16 seconds. They sit 0.23 seconds behind Germany’s Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi in first at 1:53.93.

Another German pair, Lisa Buckwitz and Neele Schulten, occupies second at 1:54.11.

Jones and Armbruster Humphries aren’t the only Americans in medal contention. Army Spc. Azaria Hill and her pilot Kaysha Love are in fifth with a time of 1:54.55.

“Definitely more in the tank to put out there,” Jones said. “This is definitely about consistency.”

United States' Kaillie Armbruster Humphries, left, and Jasmine Jones, right, arrive at the finish during after their bobsled run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Jones and Armbruster Humphries made waves from the start.

The second team to hit the track, the Americans blitzed to a track record of 56.92 seconds, beating the previous one of 56.98. That came despite having the seventh-fastest push start of the 25 teams competing.

That gave them a 0.05-second lead on Nolte and Levi.

Jones and Armbruster Humphries couldn’t replicate those results in the second heat. They completed the run in 57.24 seconds, fourth overall.

Armbruster Humphries said she overdrove the sled a bit and she didn’t adjust enough to the ice quality for the second run.

“I wouldn’t say it felt perfect,” Armbruster Humphries said of the first run. “I definitely made a few mistakes.

“Every run has its challenges and unique pieces, so you look to put four good runs together as best you can.”

Still, the duo has a podium position with the opportunity Saturday to overtake the two German sleds ahead of them. The two also have a 0.2-second cushion over the fourth-place team, Germany’s Kim Kalicki and Talea Prepens.

Jones said she knows her role in helping Armbruster Humphries make sure they bring home hardware.

“(Armbruster Humphries) needs that push, and I need to be there for her,” the 29-year-old said. “Definitely just trusting her and everything we can do and just leaving it for the next day.”

Like Jones, Hill entered Friday as a rookie who finds herself close to that dream of a medal.

The 27-year-old and teammate Love have more work to do, though. After a 57.18-second first run, the former UNLV track and field athletes produced a 57.37-second run in the nightcap.

They still moved up a place from sixth to fifth.

“I feel like we have a lot more room for improvement,” Hill said. “Most of all, we’re having fun. We do our best when we’re having fun.”

Hill and Love trail their fellow American bobsledders by 0.39 seconds with two runs to go. Hill expressed her confidence that they can erase the deficit.

“I have complete faith in Kaysha as a driver, I have complete faith in our push and we’re just going to put it all together and give two great runs (Saturday),” Hill said.