OBERHOF, Germany — Steamboat Springs’ Todd Lodwick was runner-up for a second straight nordic combined World Cup event in his comeback from retirement, losing Sunday to overall leader Anssi Koivuranta of Finland.
Lodwick finished 6.9 seconds behind Koivuranta a day after also placing second in his return to the World Cup circuit following nearly three years of retirement.
Bill Demong of Vermontville, N.Y., finished eighth and Steamboat’s Johnny Spillane placed 10th to give the United States three skiers in the top 10 for just the second time.
“This is really a historic weekend for the U.S. team. It’s a big step,” Lodwick said. “It’s kind of hard not to feel good. It’s a fairy tale come true.”
Lodwick has been competing on the Continental Cup tour since coming out of retirement this month. The four-time Olympian hopes to compete at the Vancouver Games.
Miller’s plan backfires
BORMIO, Italy — Christof Innerhofer of Italy recorded his first World Cup victory in the year-ending downhill, and defending champion Bode Miller of the U.S. finished fourth despite a ploy to get a more favorable starting spot.
Innerhofer finished in 2 minutes, 3.55 seconds on the two-mile Stelvio course, which was icier and harder than usual this year. Klaus Kroell was second, 0.32 seconds behind, and fellow Austrian Michael Walchhofer placed third, 0.95 back. Miller was 1.15 seconds off the pace.
Miller missed Saturday’s compulsory bib draw and was fined $933 and given the No. 46 starting spot.
• Kathrin Zettel of Austria won a women’s World Cup giant slalom in Semmering, Austria, for her second title of the season, and American Lindsey Vonn finished eighth to remain atop the overall standings.
Zettel finished in a two-run combined time of 2:10.90 to beat Italy’s Manuela Moelgg by 0.37 seconds.
Julia Mancuso was the fastest American in sixth.
Swider-Peltz, Hedrick win all-around titles
WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. won her first all-around national title and Chad Hedrick won the men’s all-around at the U.S. Long Track Speedskating National Championships.
Swider-Peltz Jr. won the 5,000 meters in 7:23.39 and took second in the 1,500 in 2:03.77 to add to her results Saturday, a victory in the 3,000 and eighth-place finish in the 500.
Hedrick came off a strong performance Saturday when he edged rival Shani Davis in the 5,000 after Davis had beaten him earlier in the 500. In the 1,500, Hedrick again nipped Davis, then finished second in the 10,000.
U.S. edges Czech Republic
OTTAWA — University of Minnesota freshman Jordan Schroeder had two goals and an assist as the U.S. beat the Czech Republic 4-3 at the world junior hockey championship.
Schroeder leads the United States (2-0) in scoring with three goals and four assists.
The Associated Press
