Updated

Rzhanaya Polyana, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - No American has ever medaled in luge singles at the Olympics.

Erin Hamlin is in a good position to become the first.

Hamlin, 27, was in third place after the first two runs on Monday at Sanki Sliding Center.

Competing in her third Olympics, Hamlin is .216 seconds ahead of Russia's Natalja Khoreva. Canada's Alex Gough and Kimberley McRae are fifth and sixth.

Germany's Natalie Geisenberger, the 2010 bronze medalist, has the lead after posting the best time in each of the first two runs. She has an overall time of 1 minute, 39.814 seconds, .766 seconds ahead of countrywoman and reigning Olympic champion Tatjana Huefner.

Hamlin was second behind Geisenberger after the first run. She is .818 seconds behind her going into the last two runs Tuesday, when she will try to become the first American woman to medal in Olympic luge.

Kate Hansen, the 21-year-old American whose pre-run dancing warmup has drawn attention online, is in 10th place.