Nicole Good had been sitting in tenth after the morning’s super-G and was able to climb nine spots in order to win gold at the World Junior Championships in the Alpine combined by half a second. The 21-year-old had yet to medal at a World Juniors since her first start at the event in Are two years ago.
“This victory was wonderful,” said Good. “In super-G, I couldn’t express my best [skiing] and I was quite against it. In the slalom, I started out with the aim of making up for the not-so-good morning race and I’m really happy with what I was able to do. I started from 20th place and it was still perfect.”
Kaja Norbye led the charge for the Norwegians in second-place in the combined, a half a second back from Good. Her teammates also crushed in the slalom to fill an additional three spots in the top ten. Hannah Saethereng finished sixth after winning gold in the morning’s super-G, Kristiane Bekkestad finished seventh, and Marte Monsen finished eighth in the combined.
“For me, it’s the second medal in this Junior World Ski Championships and it’s a very strong emotion,” said Norbye. “After the super-G morale wasn’t the best, I was expecting something better and that’s why I wanted to tackle the slalom attacking all. I didn’t think I could go up to the podium but instead, I put another medal around my neck.”
Sweden’s Ida Dannewitz jumped from the 12th position in the super-G to take third in the combined and earn her first ever medal at the World Junior Championships.
Due to the super-G’s cancellation earlier in the week, the super-G run of the combined also counted towards the super-G title. Saethereng laid down the fastest super-G time, to take the first ever win for Norway at the ladies World Junior Championships.
“It’s an unexpected victory, although I did a satisfying round, I did not think I could really achieve the podium and above all conquer the gold medal,” exclaimed Saethereng.
Saethereng was followed by Austrian Julia Scheib, 0.14 seconds back, and Switzerland’s Lindy Etzensperger 0.20 seconds back. Etzensperger’s teammates helped fill out the rest of the top 10 in the super-G. Noemie Kolly trailed her by three-hundredths of a second in fourth. Stephanie Jenal and Nicole Good finished ninth and tenth, respectively.
A majority of the women who finished top ten in the super-G were unable to hang on to their positions after the slalom run. In fact, only Good, Saethereng, and American Keely Cashman remained in the top of field post-slalom. Cashman had finished fifth in the super-G and jumped one spot to take fourth in the combined, 0.77 out from Good in first. Her teammates, AJ Hurt, and Nellie Rose Talbot were unable to complete both of their runs.
The last competition for the ladies at World Juniors, the downhill, takes place on Wednesday, February 27th.
Top 10 Alpine Combined
- Nicole Good (SUI): 2:03.77
- Kaja Norbye (NOR): +0.50
- Ida Dannewitz (SWE): +0.51
- Keely Cashman (USA): +0.77
- Martina Willibald (GER): +0.83
- Hannah Saethereng (NOR): +0.88
- Kristiane Bekkestad (NOR): +1.31
- Marte Monsen (NOR): +1.40
- Camille Rast (SUI): +1.87
- Francesca Baruzzi Farriol (ARG): +1.95
For full FIS results, click here.
Top 10 Super-G
- Hannah Saethereng (NOR): 1:14.54
- Julia Scheib (AUT): +0.14
- Lindy Etzensperger (SUI): +0.20
- Noemie Kolly (SUI): +0.23
- Keely Cashman (USA): +0.38
- Madeleine Chirat (FRA): +0.47
- Nadine Fest (AUT): +0.64
- Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger (GER): +0.89
- Stephanie Jenal (SUI): +0.93
- Nicole Good (SUI): +1.00
For full FIS results, click here.
About the Author: Mackenzie Moran
