Canada's Kelly VanderBeek captured her first podium spot of the World Cup alpine season Friday, finishing second in a downhill in St. Anton, Austria.
VanderBeek's time of one minute, 32.36 seconds was easily her best of the week on the 2.2-kilometre Karl Schranz course. In three preceding training runs, the native of Kitchener, Ont., did no better than 1:33.20.
Kelly Vanderbeek was in a festive mood after placing second in Friday's World Cup downhill in St. Anton, Austria.
(Giovanni Auletta/Associated Press)
"I had a poor training run yesterday so this is a great result for me," said VanderBeek, who is fifth in the World Cup downhill standings after reaching her first career podium in the discipline.
Lindsey Vonn of the United States overcame some early errors to win the race in 1:32.00, solidifying her downhill season lead.
Fellow American Julia Mancuso finished third in 1:32.38.
"I don't know what happened. I had so many mistakes early on and never thought I would post the fastest time," said Vonn, who also won the season-opening downhill in Lake Louise, Alta. "I can't believe this. After five gates I really thought it was all over. But I stayed cool and just tried to go down full speed.
Britt Janyk of Whistler, B.C., who is second in the World Cup downhill standings, finished eighth in 1:32.91.
Emily Brydon of Fernie, B.C., was 15th in 1:33.37, while Larisa Yurkiw of Owen Sound, Ont., was 38th in 1:36.25.
Defending downhill champion Renate Goetschl gave up time when she lost control of a ski after jumping and finished well outside the top 10.
Anja Paerson of Sweden posted the fastest time in the upper part of the course, but quit the race at the halfway mark after briefly losing control of the ski on a bumpy part of the course.
Martina Schild, seventh in the downhill standings, did not start because of a knee injury from a crash in Thursday's training.
Action at St. Anton concludes with a super combined on Saturday.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
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