National Basketball Association

Vonn wins 4th straight World Cup downhill

Published Jan. 9, 2010 2:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

Lindsey Vonn of the United States won a women's World Cup downhill Saturday for her fourth straight win in the discipline this season and second in two days.

Vonn sped down the shortened Krummholz course under difficult conditions in 1 minute, 9.12 seconds to beat Nadja Kamer of Switzerland by 0.14 seconds. Ingrid Jacuemod of France was another 0.02 back in third.

"I am very surprised to win the downhill today," said Vonn, who started 21st and had poorer visibility than early starters due to increasing snowfall. "I knew I had to make a perfect run. First, I thought I had to be aggressive, but then I realized that weather was getting worse."

Vonn was in control all the way and finished strongly to beat Kamer, who started first and had better conditions.

"I think visibility was pretty good," Kamer said. "Maybe I was lucky as well with start No. 1. I never believed I could win as I knew that Lindsey would be faster."

The race was postponed several times due to fog and organizers shortened the course from an initial 2,639 to 1,765 meters as they lowered the starting point for the race to the point normally used for super-G starts.

Vonn extended her lead in the overall standings as her main rival Maria Riesch finished seventh, 0.46 off the American's time.

Vonn has 794 points to lead the German by 99 points. Austria's Kathrin Zettel is third with 569.

"I can't be satisfied finishing seventh but it's not the end of the world," Riesch said. "Lowering the start made it a pretty short course, which was not a benefit for me."

Anja Paerson finished fifth, 0.40 behind Vonn, and is fourth in the standings with 471 points. She came second in Friday's downhill.

A women's super-G race in Haus im Ennstal is scheduled for Sunday.