Goetschl takes St. Moritz downhill; Mendes matches career-best finish in fifth

Goetschl takes St. Moritz downhill; Mendes matches career-best finish in fifthAustrian Renate Goetschl won her second World Cup race in two weeks on Saturday at St. Moritz, Switzerland, when Anja Paerson’s downhill debut ended in disqualification.

World Cup overall leader Paerson, a technical specialist, had been 0.03 seconds faster than Goetschl’s time at the final intermediate checkpoint but then lost control and almost fell.

Though the Swede recovered, she careered through the middle of one of the panels marking the final gate on the Corviglia course and was disqualified.

Goetschl, watching from the finish area, breathed a sigh of relief. She won the race with a time of 1:39.78, 0.17 seconds ahead of German Hilde Gerg. Another German, Maria Riesch, was third, 0.02 seconds further back.

Jonna Mendes led the U.S. team in fifth place, matching her best finish ever in a World Cup race. She was also fifth last season in a downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. She won a bronze medal in super G at St. Moritz in the world championships last season, but on a different hill. This year, the women skied on the trail used for the men’s course.

Kirsten Clark, in 16th, was the only other American in the points. Lindsey Kildow was 33rd, Libby Ludlow 36th, Caroline Lalive 40th, Bryna McCarty 47th and Alison Powers 50th.

Kelly Vanderbeek and Genevieve Simard led the way for Canada, tying for 17th place. Emily Brydon was 21st.

Austrian Christine Sponring was taken off the hill on a stretcher with shoulder and knee injuries after skidding out of control and crashing into the safety netting.

Alpine World Cup

Women’s Downhill

St. Moritz, Switzerland

December 20, 2003

1. Renate Goetschl (Austria) 1:39.78

2. Hilde Gerg (Germany) 1:39.95

3. Maria Riesch (Germany) 1:39.97

4. Nadia Styger (Switzerland) 1:40.00

5. Jonna Mendes (U.S.) 1:40.24

6. Martina Schild (Switzerland) 1:40.38

7. Carole Montillet (France) 1:40.43

8. Michaela Dorfmeister (Austria) 1:40.49

9. Sylviane Berthod (Switzerland) 1:40.57

10. Tanja Schneider (Austria) 1:40.60

11. Alexandra Meissnitzer (Austria) 1:40.62

12. Ingrid Jacquemod (France) 1:40.67

13= Regina Haeusl (Germany) 1:40.68

13= Kathrin Wilhelm (Austria) 1:40.68

15. Isabelle Huber (Germany) 1:40.77

16. Kirsten Clark (U.S.) 1:40.85

17= Kelly Vanderbeek (Canada) 1:40.86

17= Genevieve Simard (Canada) 1:40.86

17= Barbara Kleon (Italy) 1:40.86

20. Daniela Ceccarelli (Italy) 1:40.87

21. Emily Brydon (Canada) 1:40.92

22. Catherine Borghi (Switzerland) 1:40.97

23. Brigitte Obermoser (Austria) 1:41.03

24= Melanie Suchet (France) 1:41.16

24= Fraenzi Aufdenblatten (Switzerland) 1:41.16

26. Andrine Flemmen (Norway) 1:41.19

27. Julie Duvillard (France) 1:41.20

28. Katja Wirth (Austria) 1:41.28

29. Isolde Kostner (Italy) 1:41.40

30. Janette Hargin (Sweden) 1:41.46