Five U.S. Women in Top 20

Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy (Jan. 15) USST – Caroline Lalive (Steamboat Springs, CO) led five U.S. women into the top 20 Wednesday in a World Cup super G won by nearly a half-second by Olympic downhill champion Carole Montillet of France.

In winning her second straight SG, Montillet was timed in 1:12.91. Renate Goetschl of Austria was second with a time of 1:13.37 and Hilde Gerg of Germany completed the podium. Temperatures were around 30.

Lalive’s time was 1:13.87 with Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME) 14th in 1:14.24, Jonna Mendes (Heavenly, CA) 15th, Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) 17th and Libby Ludlow (Bellevue, WA) 20th. Alison Powers (Winter Park, CO), working her way back to World Cup racing after two years on the sideline with leg injuries from a racing crash, was 50th.

“So near and yet so far,” said DH/SG Head Coach Jim Tracy. “There were some bright sides, some really good sections by the girls, but we lost it again at the bottom. We’re going to take a close look at the videos to see how and where they’re losing it.

“The only other nation with five skiers in the top 20 – or three in the top 15 – was Austria, but we should have had three in the top five. We’re here to win and the girls can do it, and they know it. We’re definitely looking for podiums Friday (in downhill)…but we’re doing that every race,” Tracy said.

The super G was moved from last weekend near Innsbruck, Austria, to Cortina because of poor snow. The women, who ran their first downhill training run Tuesday, will have another training run Thursday, then run the regularly scheduled downhill/super G/giant slaloms Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Outdoor Life Network broadcasts a World Cup highlights show every Thursday at 10 p.m. EST.

FIS ALPINE WORLD CUP RESULTS
Cortina, ITA – Jan. 15
Women’s Super G-1
1. Carole Montillet, France, 1:12.91
2. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 1:13.37
3. Hilde Gerg, Germany, 1:13.44
4. Tamara Mueller, 1:13.51
5. Alexandra Meissnitzer, Austria, 1:13.62
–
8. Caroline Lalive, Steamboat Springs, CO, 1:13.87
14. Kirsten Clark, Raymond, ME, 1:14.24
15. Jonna Mendes, Heavenly, CA, 1:14.30
17. Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, CA, 1:14.37
20. Libby Ludlow, Bellevue, WA, 1:14.61
50. Alison Powers, Winter Park, CO, 1:17.10

Overall World Cup Standings
Overall (19 races)
1. Janica Kostelic, Croatia – 1,091 points
2. Karen Putzer, Italy, 595
3. Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria, 542
4. Montillet, 519
5. Martina Ertl, Germany, 492
–
8. Clark, 385
15. Sarah Schleper, Vaiul, CO, 242
16. Lalive, 238
31. Mendes, 136
40. Mancuso, 121
46T. Kristina Koznick, Burnsville, MN, 101
67T. Katie Monahan, Aspen, CO, 39
72. Ludlow, 35
86. Resi Stiegler, Jackson Hole, WY, 24
100T. Bryna McCarty, Concord, VT, 6