The skies are not crystal clear, but the predicted rain did not arrive. It was, however, a warmer night. Warmer snow deteriorates easier, which benefited the earlier start numbers. Between the more straightforward course set and the softer snow, athletes moving into the top thirty on the first run are extra impressive. While the Killington race crew is as good as it gets, there is no defeating warm weather.
Starting with bib 2, Mikaela Shiffrin arrived at the finish 0.22 ahead of bib one Liendsberger of Austria. Shiffrin never relinquished her lead. She finished the first run 0.21 seconds ahead of Swiss athlete Wendy Holdener. The three athletes are one, two, and three, with a separation of only 0.22 seconds. Slovakian superstar Petra Vlhova is 4th, only 0.31 seconds behind Shiffrin.
It is important to remember that the advantage the early women had on the first run will be reversed during the second run.
Paula Moltzan continues to struggle to finish. When considering her start number, her splits were excellent. However, she again went out. Unfortunately, the rookie sensation Ava Sunshine also DNFed on the first run. Continuing to struggle to finish slaloms, after a great day of GS, Nina O’Brien did not complete the first run. Joining her three teammates Katie Hensien who has been skiing very well, did not finish. Unfortunately, when AJ Hurt did not finish, it meant Shiffrin would be the only US athlete skiing the second run.
Like the four Americans, bib nine Canadian star St-Germain continues her struggles. Although she fought to the bottom, her mistake meant she did not qualify for the second run. However, her teammate Nullmeyer crossed the finish in ninth place with a good time, considering the course conditions she experienced. Nullmeyer finished 12th in the first run. The University of Denver graduate and ACA member Amelia Smart will race the second run. Skiing very well, Smart finished the run in 16th. This is the first time Smart has qualified for the second run in Killington. She has had five previous Killington starts.
It is undoubtedly exciting to see the best in the world continue to ski well. However, after a fantastic start for the US slalom skiers in Levi, the home race was not kind to the US women.
Analysis of top three and North Americans competing in the second run
Top 30 first run results
The Associated Press and Ski Racing Media contributed to this coverage.
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