Kildow wins women's downhill race

VAL D'ISERE, France (AP) -- Lindsey Kildow won a women's World Cup downhill race Saturday, the first American to finish in the top three at Val d'Isere since Picabo Street was second in the downhill in 1996.
Kildow won in a time of 1 minute, 21.91 seconds, followed by fellow American Caroline Lalive in 1:22.29. Alexandra Meissnitzer of Austria, who won a giant slalom and super-G at Val d'Isere in 1998, was third.
The 21-year-old Kildow leads the World Cup downhill standings with 245 points, having won earlier this month at Lake Louise, Alberta. Kildow is second in the overall standings with 322 points, trailing Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister by 44 points.
The start of the race was delayed about 1 1/2 hours because of heavy overnight snowfall and swirling wind.
Some racers struggled against the wind, snow and poor visibility. Nine did not finish -- some crashing spectacularly, others veering off course -- and a right-ankle injury prevented Austrian Elisabeth Goergl from starting.
Meissnitzer has seven top three finishes at Val d'Isere since winning the super-G in 1995.