Mancuso leads super combined after downhill

Krasnaya Polyana, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) – American Julia Mancuso grabbed the early lead in the women’s super combined with a terrific downhill run Monday at the Sochi Olympics.

Mancuso completed the downhill course at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center in 1 minute, 42.68 seconds, giving the three-time Olympic medalist a lead of 0.47 seconds over Switzerland’s Lara Gut heading into the slalom portion of the event.

Skiers will compete in the slalom later on Monday to determine the medal winners in this event.

The 2006 Olympic champion in giant slalom, Mancuso won silver in the combined four years ago behind Germany’s Maria Hofl-Riesch. The American also claimed a silver in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Hofl-Riesch is currently fifth after posting a downhill time of 1:43.72 — 1.04 seconds behind Mancuso. Unlike Mancuso, Hofl-Riesch’s strength is in the slalom, as she also won gold in that event four years ago in Vancouver.

Slovenia’s Tina Maze, winner of two silver medals in Vancouver, is third and 0.86 seconds behind Mancuso. Maze medalled in the super-G and giant slalom in 2010 and is coming off a spectacular 2012-13 World Cup season that saw her reach a record 24 podiums.

Austria’s Anna Fenninger is fourth with a downhill time of 1:43.67.

Laurenne Ross and Stacey Cook of the U.S. were both eliminated from competition in the super combined after failing to complete the downhill course. American Leanne Smith is 20th heading into the slalom segment, 2.38 seconds behind her compatriot Mancuso.

Canada’s Marie-Michele Gagnon is in 21st place after the downhill.

Categorized in: Olympics