Wiles Leads Four Americans Into Top 20

LAKE LOUISE, Canada (Dec. 4, 2016)  – Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) led four American women into the top 20 with a career-best 10^th-place finish in the first super G of the season at Audi FIS Ski World Cup.

“I am so thrilled,” said Wiles. “I had high expectations for the downhill and fell short. I had no expectations for today, but I knew that you had charge it hard, and that’s what I do best. So I just gave it my all and I’m very happy.”

Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) was 14^th, Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID) finished 16^th, from the 50^th start position, and Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO), who started 55^th, finished 20^th.

“You know if you cross the line with a good result, you know it’s going to end up as a good result,” said Johnson of her attack from the back of the pack. “But it’s also tough because you know that things are not stacked in your favor starting that far back. So you feel like you’re defying the odds.”

Switzerland’s Lara Gut took the victory after a 75-minute weather delay due to snowfall. The start was also moved from its original position, to the lower “Coach's Corner” start position. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein was second, followed by Sofia Goggia of Italy in third.

Next up, the women’s tech team heads to Sestriere, Italy for giant slalom and slalom events Dec. 10-11. The speed team heads to Val d’Isere, France for downhill and super G events Dec. 17-18.

Breezy Johnson started 50^th and finished 16^th in the women's super-G. (Agence Zoom/Getty Images-Christophe Pallot)

“I’ve never been to Val d’Isere so that’ll be a whole different battle, as opposed to (Lake Louise), where I've been more than anywhere else,” Johnson said. “So it will be interesting, and I am really excited.”

Other American finishers Sunday included Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) in 34^th; Stacey Cook (Mammoth Lakes, CA) 35^th; Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH) 47^th; and Anna Marno (Centennial, WY) 49^th.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jackie Wiles scored a World Cup career-best with a 10^th-place finish in Sunday’s super G.
• Wiles previous best World Cup super G finish was 29^th in Cortina, Italy in 2014.
• Breezy Johnson finished 16^th from the 50^th start position.
• Alice McKennis finished 20^th from the 55^th start position.
• Switzerland’s Lara Gut took the victory for her second World Cup win of the season.
• Mikaela Shiffrin leads the overall World Cup standings with 358 points.
• Gut is second in the overall World Cup standings with 330 points.

QUOTES
Jackie Wiles
I am so thrilled. I had high expectations for the downhill and fell short. I had no expectations for today, but I knew that you had to charge it hard, and that's what I do best. So I just gave it my all and I’m very happy.

I know it was going to be tough fight; it was going to be gritty and tough conditions. So knowing that going in, I just gave it my all, and that’s all I can do.

Breezy Johnson
I’ve been working hard summer and it’s really great to see it pay off when the pressure is on.

You know if you cross the line with a good result, you know it’s going to end up as a good result. But it’s also tough because you know that things are not stacked in your favor. So you feel like you’re defying the odds.

I’ve never been to Val d’Isere so that’ll be a whole different battle, as opposed to (Lake Louise), where I've been more than anywhere else, so it will be interesting and I am really excited.

RESULTS
Women’s Super G