Kummer Wins World Cup Giant Slalom

LIENZ, Austria (AP) _ Switzerland's Lillian Kummer recorded her first World Cup victory Friday, winning a women's giant slalom with an excellent second run. <br><br>``I surprised myself,''

Friday, December 28th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LIENZ, Austria (AP) _ Switzerland's Lillian Kummer recorded her first World Cup victory Friday, winning a women's giant slalom with an excellent second run.

``I surprised myself,'' said Kummer, who had a combined time of 2 minutes, 12.06 seconds.

Karen Putzer of Italy was second in 2:12.09 and Ylva Nowen and Anja Paerson, both of Sweden, tied for third in 2:12.14.

The top Americans were Kirstan Clark (2:13.23) in 17th place and Sarah Schleper (2:13.44) in 18th. Sonja Nef of Switzerland, the leader in the giant slalom standings, did not finish.

Kummer entered the second run trailing first-leg leader Andrine Flemmen of Norway by 0.46 seconds. Flemmen held the advantage until the bottom section but finished in the second half of the field. Kummer was timed in 1:05.26 for the second run.

In the first run, a sharply set gate going into the middle of the course tripped up many of the favorites, including Nef and overall leader Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who finished but did not qualify for the second leg.

Other top racers who failed to finish the first leg were Alison Forsyth of Canada, Marie Jose Rienda Contreras of Spain, Manja Poutiainen of Finland and Alexander Meissnitzer of Austria.