| 4TH FOR MCKENNA, MICKEL MAKES TOP 30 |
10 December 2001 |
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Mickel Breaks Top 30 as McKenna Edges Closer to Podium
McKenna was the clear winner in the qualifying rounds, with the highest scoring run of the entire event, but dropped to 4th behind Nicola Pederzolli of Austria and last year¹s series victor Sabine Wehr-Hasler of Germany. For British Land Alpine Team member and No 1 Downhiller, Finlay Mickel (24, Edinburgh), it has been a dramatic weekend in Val d¹Isere. After missing the last gate in yesterday¹s Super G, on Saturday he collected his first ever World Cup points, finishing 25th in a World Class field. It has been five year¹s since Britain has had a comparable result in a men¹s downhill event. Unfortunately, the high speed event was not without casualties. Complex security netting failed to stop the progress of the opening racer, Beltrametti of Switzerland as he crashed out the course and a long wait ensued for the remaining competitors as he was taken by helicopter to the nearest hospital for treatment. With start number 57 Finlay began his attack on the famous OK course only to be pulled up abruptly by a yellow flag, signalling both Finlay and America¹s Bode Millar to stop, as Italian racer, Staudacher untangled himself from the timing equipment. Having returned swiftly to the start, Finlay began his second trip down the icy course, where light was already fading on the bottom section. With some nervous energy used up in the first abortive run, focus, courage and determination were rewarded with a time of 2¹06.16.
4. MCKENNA, Lesley GBR Men¹s FIS World Cup Downhill 25. MICKEL, Finlay GBR 2¹02.16 Mail
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Britain¹s
top competitive half-pipe rider, Lesley McKenna (27, Aviemore)
achieved a fabulous 4th place on Friday in the second women¹s
World Cup of the season in Whistler, improving on her 
