Martins Dukurs takes European skeleton title with 50th win

INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) – Latvian slider Martins Dukurs won the European skeleton title for a third straight year Friday by earning his 50th career World Cup win.

Dukurs, unbeaten on the 1976 Olympic track since 2009, posted the fastest time in both heats to beat Yun Sung-bin of South Korea by 0.15 seconds. Nikita Tregubov of Russia was 0.49 back in third, while Axel Jungk of Germany trailed by 0.97 in fourth.

Having won the previous three races, Yun remained in the lead of the World Cup standings with 1,095 points, 49 ahead of Dukurs.

Latvia’s winner Martins Dukurs, center, South Korea’s second placed Yun Sung-bin, left, and Russia’s third placed Nikita Tregubov celebrate on the podium after the men’s Skeleton World Cup race in Innsbruck, Austria, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

The season’s fifth World Cup race also counted as the European Championship, with Tregubov taking the silver medal and Jungk the bronze.

The women’s race was scheduled for later Friday.

Latvia's Martins Dukurs jumps on his skeleton during his first run in the men's Skeleton World Cup race in Innsbruck, Austria, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Latvia’s Martins Dukurs jumps on his skeleton during his first run in the men’s Skeleton World Cup race in Innsbruck, Austria, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

South Korea's Yun Sung-bin speeds down the track during his first run in the men's Skeleton World Cup race in Innsbruck, Austria, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

South Korea’s Yun Sung-bin speeds down the track during his first run in the men’s Skeleton World Cup race in Innsbruck, Austria, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Russia's Nikita Tregubov starts his first run in the men's Skeleton World Cup race in Innsbruck, Austria, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Russia’s Nikita Tregubov starts his first run in the men’s Skeleton World Cup race in Innsbruck, Austria, Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

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