Austin Florian, a skeleton racer from Southington, finished the first two heats of Olympic competition in 13th place with a combined time of 1:54.53 at Cortina Sliding Center in Italy Thursday.
Florian, a first-time Olympian, had the fastest start in both runs and set a start record on the track both times (4.49 and 4.48 seconds).
Florian, 31, completed his first run in 56.95 seconds and his second in 56.59.
He will compete again Friday in the third heat (1:30 p.m. ET), followed by the medal round.
Florian is a former ski racer who grew up skiing on Mount Southington and skied in college before discovering skeleton, in which racers pilot a sled down an icy chute headfirst.
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