Are: Austria rolls to early in lead in team event

Austria held a commanding lead after the super G leg of the team event at the World Championships on Sunday, after flying in Fritz Strobl to strengthen its chances.
    Austria — which needs gold in this event to take surpass Sweden in the gold medal count — posted the fastest time in three of the four super-G legs.
    The competition conclude later in the afternoon with four slalom legs beginning at 1 p.m. local (7 a.m. ET).   
    Eleven teams of six skiers were entered in the event. Two men and two women race one super-G run each, and four take part in the slalom.
    The United States was only 10th after its first three skiers — Kaylin Richardson, Ted Ligety and Resi Stiegler — off course. All three tried to hike — a rare effort in super-G — but to little avail. Tim Jitloff was the only American to contribute, posting the fourth-fastest time in the final leg.

ARE, Sweden — Austria held a commanding lead after the super G leg of the team event at the World Championships on Sunday, after flying in Fritz Strobl to strengthen its chances.
    Austria — which needs gold in this event to take surpass Sweden in the gold medal count — posted the fastest time in three of the four super-G legs.
    The competition conclude later in the afternoon with four slalom legs beginning at 1 p.m. local (7 a.m. ET).   
    Eleven teams of six skiers were entered in the event. Two men and two women race one super-G run each, and four take part in the slalom.
    A complicated points ranking system determines the winning nation after the total of eight runs for each team.
    Strobl, the super-G silver medalist here, had already returned to his home to Corinthia, Austria, but flew back on request from Austrian ski federation president Peter Schroeksnadel.
    ''It wasn't difficult to get motivated,'' Strobl said. ''At home I recovered some energy.''
    Renate Goetschl, Strobl and Michaela Kirchgasser gave Austria a hefty lead by posting the fastest time in each of their runs. Though Benjamin Raich was only second behind Switzerland's Marc Berthod in the final super-G leg, Austria still remained in the lead with five points.
    ''It's better than we could ever hope for, having three best times,'' said Austria's Alpine director Hans Pum.
    Canada sat second with 15 points thanks to strong performances from John Kucera, Britt Janyk and Francois Bourque. Only a poor run by Emily Brydon really dented the team's result.
    Switzerland sat third with 17 points.
    The United States was only 10th after its first three skiers — Kaylin Richardson, Ted Ligety and Resi Stiegler — off course. All three tried to hike — a rare effort in super-G — but to little avail. Tim Jitloff was the only American to contribute, posting the fourth-fastest time in the final leg.
    Though the team competition event has proven to be a hit with fans both previous times it was staged, many teams don't like the event — arguing it is too complicated for spectators to understand, too late in the championships and too team-oriented in a highly individual sport. It is expected to be held in the middle of the next championship.
    Austria won the team event at the World Cup Finals here last season, while the Germans were the surprise champions at the last worlds in Bormio, Italy, in 2005.
    Sweden currently tops the medals table with three golds, a silver and two bronzes. Austria has two golds, three silvers and three bronzes.

— The Associated Press

Nations team event
ARE, Sweden — Results Sunday from the Nations Team Event at the Alpine Skiing World Championships, after the superG portion on the Olympia course:

1. Austria, 5 points (1-1-1-2).
2. Canada, 15 (7-2-3-3).
3. Switzerland, 17 (11-3-2-1).
4. France, 23 (2-6-6-9).
5. Italy, 23 (5-3-9-6).
6. Sweden, 23 (4-8-4-7).
7. Slovenia, 26 (3-5-10-8).
8. Germany, 29 (8-9-7-5).
9. Finland, 33 (6-11-5-11).
10. United States, 37 (11-11-11-4).
11. Czech Republic, 37 (11-7-8-11).

Heat 1
1. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 1 minute, 1.92 seconds.
2. Ingrid Jacquemod, France, 1:02.00.
3. Tina Maze, Slovenia, 1:02.18.
4. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:02.28.
5. Daniela Merighetti, Italy, 1:02.77.
6. Sanni Leinonen, Finland, 1:03.16.
7. Emily Brydon, Canada, 1:03.98.
8. Petra Haltmayr, Germany, 1:04.10.
9. Kaylin Richardson, United States, 1:13.85 (more than 8 percent off the leading time 11 points).
10. Lucie Hrstkova, Czech Republic, 1:20.72 (more than 8 percent off the leading time 11 points).
Did Not Finish (11 points): Nadia Styger, Switzerland.

Heat 2
1. Fritz Strobl, Austria, 59.83.
2. John Kucera, Canada, 59.91.
3. Massimiliano Blardone, Italy, 1:00.10
(tie) Daniel Albrecht, Switzerland, 1:00.10.
5. Ales Gorza, Slovenia, 1:00.16.
6. Antoine Deneriaz, France, 1:00.28.
7. Ondrej Bank, Czech Republic, 1:00.46.
8. Hans Olsson, Sweden, 1:00.48.
9. Felix Neureuther, Germany, 1:00.91.
Did Not Finish (11 points): Ted Ligety, United States; Jouni Pellinen, Finland.

Heat 3
1. Michaela Kirchgasser, Austria, 1:02.54.
2. Fabienne Suter, Switzerland, 1:02.60.
3. Britt Janyk, Canada, 1:02.69.
4. Anna Ottosson, Sweden, 1:02.81.
5. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 1:03.10.
6. Anne-Sophie Barthet, France, 1:03.70.
7. Maria Riesch, Germany, 1:03.96.
8. Petra Zakourilova, Czech Republic, 1:05.26.
9. Chiara Costazza, Italy, 1:05.37.
10. Petra Robnik, Slovenia, 1:05.46.
11. Resi Stiegler, United States, 1:23.14 (more than 8 percent off the leading time 11 points).

Heat 4
1. Marc Berthod, Switzerland, 59.82.
2. Benjamin Raich, Austria, 59.90.
3. Francois Bourque, Canada, 1:00.31.
4. Tim Jitloff, United States, 1:00.39.
5. Stephan Keppler, Germany, 1:00.66.
6. Christof Innerhofer, Italy, 1:00.82.
7. Patrik Jaerbyn, Sweden, 1:01.07.
8. Bernard Vajdic, Slovenia, 1:01.86.
9. Pierrick Bourgeat, France, 1:02.06.
Did Not Finish (11 points): Krystof Kryzl, Czech Republic; Marcus Sandell, Finland