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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 3:44 a.m., Saturday, March 7, 2009

Skiing: Kroell wins World Cup downhill race

By STEPHAN NASSTROM
AP Sports Writer

KVITFJELL, Norway — Klaus Kroell led an Austrian 1-2 finish Saturday to win his first World Cup downhill race.

Kroell completed the Olympic course, which was shortened because of fog, in 1 minute, 32.12 seconds. It was the first time an Austrian won a downhill at Kvitfjell since Hermann Maier in 2005.

Michael Walchhofer finished 0.27 seconds behind to finish as the runner-up for the second straight day. Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada, who won Friday's downhill, was 0.46 behind Kroell in third place.

Bode Miller, who won a downhill at Kvitfjell last year, won't ski again this season but has yet to decide on retirement. The defending World Cup overall champion hasn't won a race this season and sat out the last two weekends in Europe.

American Erik Fisher crashed near the bottom, but escaped unhurt.

Walchhofer leads the downhill standings with 470 points. Kroell moved to second with 395 with one more race left in the season.

The last downhill of the season will be held next week during the World Cup finals at Are, Sweden. A super G is scheduled at Kvitfjell on Sunday.