Four American women in top 15 at Santa Caterina; Cook recovering

By Published On: January 7th, 2005Comments Off on Four American women in top 15 at Santa Caterina; Cook recovering

Four American women in top 15 at Santa Caterina; Cook recovering{mosimage}SANTA CATERINA, Italy (Jan. 7) – World Cup downhill leader Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) led four American women into the top 15 of a downhill Friday, finishing fourth on a long, testing speed run. On what will be the downhill course for the World alpine Ski Championships in another month, Ingrid Jacquemod of France earned her first World Cup win.

Jacquemod won in 1:40.29 and Renate Goetschl of Austria finished second on a long, tiring course characterized with flat light and a technical lower section before the turns and steep stop and the women hit a mostly flat section to the finish.

Kildow, who was second Thursday in the first of two DHs moved from snowy and windy Val d’Isere, France, finished fourth in 1:40.73. Caroline Lalive (Steamboat Springs, CO) had her second top-10 in 24 hours as she finished eighth with Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME) 12th and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) in 13th place. Bryna McCarty (Concord, VT) made it five Americans in the points, finishing 29th.

“The girls keep going in the right direction. I’m very pleased with what they’re doing – four in the top 15 today, four in the top 20 [Thursday]…it’s a good situation,” said Head Coach Patrick Riml. “And everybody’s excited, fired-up about this being the downhill for Worlds.”

Kildow made a small mistake on the upper section, he said, “or she’d have been on the podium again, I’m sure. She’s feeling confident on this hill…and Caroline another top 10, so good for her. I’m very happy with Kirsten getting better every race” after knee and wrist surgery following a crash a year ago. “And Julia, running first today, was right in there, too…

“This is a tough hill. It’s the same for everybody, of course, but it’s tough – there’s a little sun and then it’s flat light and totally dark.”

Kildow, who won the opening DH of the season at Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, has 275 downhill points to 265 for Germany’s Hilde Gerg, who was fifth Friday, with Goetschl third (255). After 15 races, she stands sixth overall with four others – Mancuso and Lalive plus Kristina Koznick (Eagan, MN) and Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) – in the top 20 overall.

In a related development, Riml said he expected Stacey Cook (Truckee, CA) to be released from a local hospital. She was held for observation after a crash Thursday in the first downhill, suffering a concussion and leg injury. She will return home for rest and further medical examination. In addition, Riml said veteran Libby Ludlow (Bellevue, WA) was returning home Friday for examination of leg problems.

Friday was the second of four days of World Cup racing on what will be the World Championships venues for women. The two DHs were relocated after winds and heavy snow buried them in Val d’Isere and organizers accepted a giant slalom and slalom on the weekend from Berchtesgaten, Germany, which has poor snow conditions. The women run GS Saturday and SL Sunday before heading to Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, for two super Gs and two more downhills.

World Cup

Women’s Downhill
Santa Caterina, Italy
Jan. 7, 2005

1. Ingrid Jacquemod, FRA 1:40.29
2. Renate Goetschl, AUT 1:40.40
3. Carole Montillet-Carles, FRA 1:40.41
4. Lindsey Kildow, USA 1:40.73
5. Hilde Gerg, GER 1:40.81
5. Janica Kostelic, CRO 1:40.81
7. Petra Haltmayr, GER 1:40.90
8. Caroline Lalive, USA 1:40.94
9. Janette Hargin, SWE 1:41.03
10. Emily Brydon, CAN 1:41.07
11. Maria Riesch, GER 1:41.15
12. Kirsten Clark, USA 1:41.19
13. Julia Mancuso, USA 1:41.26
14. Isolde Kostner, ITA 1:41.32
15. Katja Wirth, AUT 1:41.38
16. Michaela Dorfmeister, AUT 1:41.52
17. Elena Fanchini, ITA 1:41.55
18. Nadia Styger, SUI 1:41.61
19. Chimene Alcott, GBR 1:41.69
20. Sylvaine Bertho, SUI 1:41.98
21. Martina Ertl, GER 1:42.02
22. Astrid Vierthaler, AUT 1:42.17
23. Alexandra Meissnitzer, AUT 1:42.29
24. Daniela Ceccarelli, ITA 1:42.71
25. Kathrin Wilhelm, AUT 1:42.73
26. Monika Dumermuth, SUI 1:42.77
27. Martina Schild, SUI 1:42.80
28. Isabelle Huber, GER 1:42.94
29. Bryna McCarty, USA 1:43.03
30. Julie Duvillard, FRA 1:43.06
other North Americans:
35. Jonna Mendes, USA 1:43.55
46. Kelly Vanderbeek, CAN 1:44.87
DNF: Anne Marie LeFrancois, CAN.

THE SCOOP

By Hank McKee

equipment
Women’s Downhill, Santa Caterina, Jan. 7, 2005
Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Jacquemod, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2 Goetschl, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
3 Montillet-Carles, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
4 Kildow, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
5 Gerg, Volkl/Lange/Marker
5 Kostelic, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7 Haltmayr, Fischer/Lange/Atomic
8 Lalive, Head/Lange/Tyrolia
9 Hargin, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
10 Brydon, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

The Women’s Downhill, SantaCarerina, Italy 1/7/2005 is the 15th race of a 32 race (plus one combined) women’s World Cup schedule. … It is the fourth of eight scheduled downhills. … It is a replacement race for Val d’Isere 12/19 postponed by snow and high wind. … It is the second back-to-back “double” downhill this season. … Top 13 racers are within the same second. … Winning margin .11; for second place .12.

It is the first career victory for Ingrid Jacquemod and just her second podium in eight World Cup seasons. … Her next best result this season is 9th in Lake Louise SG. … In DH 14th. … She is the third Frenchwoman to win a DH since 1982 along with the late Regine Cavagnoud and Carole Montillet.

It is the 83rd career podium for Renate Goetschl. … The 43rd in DH. … It is her third 2nd place finish of the season, without a win. … She has been no worse than fifth in any of the four DH’s this season.

It is the 25th career podium for Carole Montillet-Carles. … Her 13th in DH. … It is her third podium of the season without a win… All in DH. … Her worst DH finish this season is fifth (yesterday at SantaCaterina). … Last time Frenchwomen had two on the podium in a DH was 1/19/85 at Megeve with Catherine Quittet 2nd and Claudine Emonet 3rd.

It is the eighth career top five result for Lindsey Kildow. … Sixth of the season. … She has been in the top five of all four DH’s this season. … It is the 29th career top 10 for Caroline Lalive. … Her fifth top 10 of the season, encompassing the four DH’s. … It is the eighth career top 10 for Emily Brydon. … Her first of the season. … It is the 44th career top 15 for Kirsten Clark. … Her third of the season. … She is one placing off her best result of the season. … It is the 13th career top 15 for Julia Mancuso. … It is her third best career DH placing. … It is her 7th top 15 this season. …It is the 12th career scoring result for Bryna McCarty. … Her sixth of the season.

Tanja Poutiainen (did not race) maintains the lead in overall standings with 626 points. … Janica Kostelic (tied for 5th) is 2nd at 604. … Anja Paerson (entered but did not start) is third at 539. … Top American in Lindsey Kildow in sixth at 435. … Kildow leads the DH standings 275-265 over Hilde Gerg (finished tied for fifth). … Renate Goetschl is third at 255. … Next best American is Caroline Lalive in ninth at 116. … Austrian maintains the Nations Cup lead 6052 over 3116 for the U.S. … Austria leads the women’s standings 2431-1532 for the U.S.

Share This Article

About the Author: Pete Rugh