Russia fastest after three four-man bobsled heats; U.S. in 3rd

Rzhanaya Polyana, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - Russia's four-man bobsled team remained atop the leaderboard following Sunday's third heat, while the United States slid into third heading into the final run at the Sochi Olympics.

The Russian-1 sled finished Saturday's two runs with a total time of 1 minute, 50.19 seconds to give the Russians a slim .04-second lead heading into Sunday, the final day of the Sochi Games.

Russia's top sled extended that margin slightly with a third run time of 55.02 seconds, just .13 seconds faster than Latvia, which remained in second with a total time of 2:45.38.

The USA-1 sled piloted by Steven Holcomb, which entered the day .17 seconds behind Russia, crossed the finish line in 55.30 seconds to leave the U.S. facing a .45-second deficit for first with just one run remaining to determine the medal winners.

Holcomb helped his four-man group win gold four years ago in the Vancouver Games and picked up his second Olympic medal on Monday, a bronze with Steven Langton in the two-man.

To claim another medal in Sochi, Holcomb will have to hold off a second Russian sled that sat just .15 seconds behind the top American squad heading into the final run.

The Germany-1 sled, which features the same four-man group that took first place in the 2013 World Championships, was just behind Russia in fifth after three runs. Germany had won four straight Olympic gold medals in four-man bobsled before Holcomb's sled ended the streak in 2010.

Only the top 20 times advanced to the final run.