Goetschl Wins WC Downhill

Igls, Austria, Feb. 25 (AP by Nesha Starcevic)–Renate Goetschl of Austria won a World Cup downhill today, extending her overall lead with her fourth victory of the season.

Goetschl earned 100 points and increased her lead over compatriot Michaela Dorfmeister, who finished third. Four Austrians finished in the top 10.

Regina Haeusl of Germany kept her lead in the downhill standings by finishing second for the fifth time this season, .45 seconds behind Goetschl. Isolde Kostner of Italy was fourth.

On a slope in which Franz Klammer triumphed at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics, Goetschl was timed in 1 minute, 33.72 seconds for her 14th career victory.

The course has been slightly modified and the Austrian racers had been complaining throughout three days of practice that it had become unexciting, with long gliding passages that favored Kostner.

The Austrians predicted they would be faster in warmer conditions. And they got what they wanted _ sunshine and milder temperatures.

Goetschl was far ahead at all intermediate timings, at one point .70 seconds faster than Hauesl, who had an earlier starting number.

Dorfmeister was also faster than Hauesl in the top part of the course and had a lead of .30 seconds at the last intermediate timing.

But at the end of the Olympia Patscherkofel course, Dorfmeister finished .05 seconds behind Hauesl, losing speed in the final stage of the race.

Hauesl finished in 1:34.17 and Dorfmeister in 1:34.22. Kostner, trying to dislodge Hauesl from the lead in downhill standings, finished in 1:34.31.

Goetschl has 1,153 points and Dorfmeister has 1,057.

In the downhill standings, Haeusl has 468 points after stretching her lead over Kostner from six to 36 points. Kostner has 432.

Copyright © 2000 The Associated Press