ISLE of Wight skeleton athlete Kim Murray is pleased with improvements made in the United States as she focuses on qualification for the World Championships in 2021.

Kim, back in the UK following the North American leg of the BMW IBSF World Cup, came 19th in Lake Placid — the venue for the next World Championships — to beat her 22nd at the same venue a fortnight ago.

In improving her position, Kim set a new push PB of 5.37secs, which was ranked eighth in the second run last weekend.

Isle of Wight County Press: Island skeleton athlete, Kim Murray, in Lake Placid, USA. Island skeleton athlete, Kim Murray, in Lake Placid, USA.

Kim, who will be racing the first of six European races in the New Year — the first in familiar territory for her, in Winterberg, Germany, on Sunday, January 5.

“I was pleased with the improvements I made and happy this was reflected in the end result,” she said.

“I’d have liked to have finished in the top 16 — and I believe I was capable of this result — but the field is extremely strong and there was no room for error.

Isle of Wight County Press: Kim Murray in race action at Lake Placid, USA, on Sunday. Kim Murray in race action at Lake Placid, USA, on Sunday.

“I made a couple of errors and paid for them. They cost me time.

“Lake Placid is an unforgiving track. Overall though, I had a good couple of weeks in Lake Placid, getting reacquainted with sliding and the track and learning as much as I could.

“With the venue hosting the World Championships in 2021, the year before the Olympic Games, I am keeping the bigger picture in mind and am happy I got to train and race there this year in preparation for that.”