KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia – Lauryn Williams and Lolo Jones made a little bit of history in the bobsled world. Williams is now poised to make a lot more.

[Video: Lolo Jones exposes food given to athletes]



View photos

Williams, a track & field gold medalist from the University of Miami, became the ninth American ever to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics when she hopped into her Team USA sled in the first heat of her two-man competition here on Tuesday. Not long after, Jones, a hurdler, became the 10th when she teamed with Jazmine Fenlator in the United States' third sled.

Williams and USA-1 pilot Elana Meyers lead after the first two runs. If they maintain their position through Wednesday's final two runs, Williams would become the first woman to win a gold medal in both the Summer and Winter Games. She won gold in the 4x100 relay at the 2012 London Olympics.

[Related: Former U.S. Olympian's criticism of Lolo Jones is misplaced]

Meyers and Williams finished their two heats with a combined time of 1:54.89, .23 seconds ahead of second-place Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse of Canada. The USA-2 sled with Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans is in third place. .56 seconds back.

Jones and Fenlator had a shaky run and are in 11th place with a time of 1:56.73.

Eddie Eagan is the only person to ever win gold medals in both the Winter and Summer Olympics: He won in boxing at the 1920 Antwerp Games and in four-man bobsled at the 1932 Lake Placid Games. Only four people have won medals of any kind in both the Winter and Summer Olympics.

More Winter Olympics coverage on Yahoo Sports: