Mancuso 16th in downhill after losing a pole

By USSA

CRANS MONTANA, Switzerland — Olympic super combined bronze medalist Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley) lost a pole, but hung on to lead the U.S. Ski Team by placing 18 Sunday in the final downhill prior to the March 10-17 World Cup Finals.

Only the top 25 athletes in each discipline qualify to start at World Cup Finals. Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain) finished 21 in the race and will also have a downhill start during the March 12 women’s race.

Andrea Fischbacher, who did not make the 2014 Austrian Olympic Team, produced a stunning charge from bib 29 to win the race ahead of teammate Anna Fenninger.

Cook, Mancuso and Leanne Smith (N Conway,N.H. have also qualified for super G at World Cup Finals. They are ranked 13, 14 and 23, respectively, in the discipline.