Geisenberger gets 5th luge World Cup win of season

KOENIGSSEE, Germany (AP) Germany's Natalie Geisenberger claimed her fifth luge World Cup win from six events to extend her commanding lead in the overall standings on Saturday.

The Olympic champion and defending titleholder was fastest in both runs for a combined time of 1 minute, 41.411 seconds, beating Canada's Alex Gough by 0.349 seconds and Germany's Dajana Eltberger by 0.460.

''To start the new year with a victory in front of an audience like this is brilliant. I had a grin on my face going down the track, a good sign. I'm just having fun,'' said Geisenberger after her 28th World Cup win.

Emily Sweeney of the United States was fourth for her best World Cup result to date, ahead of Germans Tatjana Huefner and Anke Wischnewski.

Geisenberger leads the standings at the halfway stage with 570 points, ahead of Huefner on 390 and Eltberger on 371.

Germany's Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt won the doubles race later Saturday to stretch their winning run on their home track to seven victories since January 2010.

The Olympic champions were fastest in the second run to edge compatriots Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken by 0.185 seconds. Eggert and Benecken were leading after the first run.

Austria's Peter Penz and Georg Fischler finished third.

Wendl and Arlt cut Eggert and Benecken's lead in the overall standings to 70 points after their second successive victory.

The men's competition and a team relay are scheduled for Sunday.