Wiles, Wright Top 20 in Zauchensee Downhill
Jacqueline Wiles posted another strong result in Zauchensee on Saturday, Jan. 13, finishing 14th overall in the downhill, her best result in the discipline since Cortina in 2022. Wiles' push into the top 15 from bib 39 also earned her her second Stifel Bibbo Award of the weekend, an honor that goes to the racer who advances through the ranks the most from their bib number.
"I've had some great memories on this track, so I'm more confident with where I'm going, and I have my line dialed," said Wiles. "I just needed to nail a few key turns and let the skis run. I got late at times, but I kept it going, and I think that's why I was able to have a fast run."
Wright, who pushed out of the start in bib 2, also ended the day with a solid result, finishing 17th overall. After Friday's super-G, Wright changed her plan and chose to ski with more enthusiasm and less reserve than the previous day.
"I will always feel better with a result where I know I pushed my skiing to the limit rather than trying to ski the whole course perfectly," said Wright. "A small mistake ended up costing me a lot of time today, and when you start that early on great snow, you end up on the right or the wrong side of the times. I fell back a bit today, but I still feel good about my skiing."
Italy's Sofia Goggia came out on top, winning her first downhill of the season. Austria's Stephanie Venier finished one-tenth off Goggia's winning time in second, followed by her teammate Mirjam Puchner, who tied with Italy's Nicol Delago in third.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Tricia Mangan did not finish but escaped a crash and is okay. Lauren Macuga finished 36th, and Keely Cashman finished 38th.
The speed series in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, will wrap up on Sunday, Jan. 14, with a second super-G. Wiles, Wright, Mangan, Cashman, Macuga and Alice Merryweather will start. Tune in on Peacock at 5:00 a.m. ET to catch the final race of the weekend.
RESULTS
Women's Downhill
SUPER-G STARTERS
Isabella Wright (34)
Keely Cashman (42)
Alice Merryweather (43)
Tricia Mangan (45)
Jacqueline Wiles (47)
Lauren Macuga (48)
HOW TO WATCH
5:00 a.m. ET - women's super-G, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria - Peacock
