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Goetschl is the Queen of Speed Cortina D'Ampezzo — January 15, 2004
Austrian Renate Goetschl continued torching the Olympic hill in Cortina Saturday, winning her third consecutive World Cup race, as she took a downhill - and the downhill points lead - with Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) collecting her second top-3 finish in 24 hours and once again led four U.S. women into the top 20.
Goetschl, who won super Gs Wednesday and Friday, captured the first of two downhills in the 1956 Olympic resort town in 1:37.27 with Janica Kostelic of Croatia second (1:37.56). Kildow, who was fourth and second in the super Gs, finished third with a time of 1:37.71. Overall, she's fifth in the points behind Kostelic, second behinds Goetschl in both DH and super G.
In addition, Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME) posted her first top-10 of the winter, finishing eighth in 1:38.29 while with Caroline Lalive (Steamboat Springs, CO) tied for 12th and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) was 17th. Jonna Mendes (Heavenly, CA) was 23rd. Kildow, 20 and in her breakout season on the World Cup, has produced six podiums (three in DH, three in SG) as the U.S. women had at least four in the top 20 for the ninth time in 10 speed races - five DHs and five super Gs - this season. The high point came in the first downhill when Kildow won Dec. 3 in Lake Louise and six U.S. women broke into the top 20. "I feel good. I made some mistakes, leaning in on two turns, for instance," Kildow said. "They were some small things I can clean up for [Sunday's DH] but this gave me confidence again. "I was a little edgy and didn't let my skis go, too...but, again, four in the top 20 - this team is awesome! I was pretty psyched to see 'Clarky' get that top-10." But less psyched to see Goetschl take the downhill leader's bib from Kildow? "Oh, that's only temporary - I'll get it back [Sunday]," Kildow laughed. Alex Hoedlmoser, women's DH/SG head coach, also was doubly pleased with Kildow's podium and Clark's top-10 as she continues her comeback from a crash last January that tore ligaments in both knees and broke her right wrist. "That's huge for Kirsten, just huge...I'm so happy for Clarky. It's just what she needed, and she's going to be somebody to watch at the World Championships. It's been tough at times but this should give her some good confidence in her skiing and knowing she can be there with the best again. "I think she got that message today, and that's good." In 2003, Clark was silver medalist in super G at the World Championships... "And Lindsey came out to win again, and really challenged Goetschl. She was so close to it at the last split, but she had a mistake on the bottom. She can clean that up for [Sunday]," Hoedlmoser said. "For a young athlete - and remember, she's just turned in the fall 20 - to be this consistent, so many podiums, is so impressive. She did another great job...and the rest of the girls kept pushing again, too. That's what they have to do. They've got just one more race to show they belong at Worlds." The women have another downhill Sunday - the final speed race before the World Championships get underway later this month in Bormio, Italy. They also have a slalom Thursday in Zagreb, Croatia, marking the first World Cup race in that nation, and the annual giant slalom/SL combination Jan. 22-23 in Maribor, Slovenia.
WOMEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
1. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 1:37.27
8. Kirsten Clark, Raymond, Maine, 1:38.29
— Courtesy of US Ski Team |
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