Macuga puts US on top in women's team combined
SAALBACH, Austria, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Lauren Macuga put the United States on top of the leaderboard after the downhill element of the women's team combined event at the Alpine World Ski Championships on Tuesday.
With Paula Moltzan set to ski the decisive slalom part for the USA 2 team, super-G bronze medallist Macuga set the pace in one minute 41.60 seconds down Saalbach's Ulli Maier piste.
That time was 0.23 quicker than Germany 1's Emma Aicher, paired with Lena Duerr, and Miriam Puchner third fastest for the Austria 1 team with Katharina Liensberger.
Newly-crowned downhill world champion Breezy Johnson, who has ski great Mikaela Shiffrin as her slalom partner in USA 1, was fourth fastest and leaving 0.51 to make up.
"I knew I nailed it," said Macuga. "I think I'm going to be so nervous but so excited down here (at the finish area). It's going to be so different to anything we ever do, I have no control so I'll just wish her (Moltzan) good luck."
The team combined, with each nation able to enter up to four pairs, is being held at a world championships for the first time with the men's event on Wednesday.
The event will also feature at next year's Milan-Cortina Olympics.
American Lindsey Vonn's hopes of another medal at the age of 40 appeared to have disappeared when she finished 21st of the 26 teams and 2.51 seconds off the pace, leaving USA 3 partner AJ Hurt a massive task.
Vonn had hoped to team up with Shiffrin in a pairing that would have united the two most successful female World Cup skiers, but U.S. team officials made the selection on the season's performances.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
21 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Friday briefing: Lamine Yamal stars for Spain and ‘no crisis' for Sarina Wiegman
England boss Sarina Wiegman named her squad for Euro 2025 – insisting there was no 'crisis' in the Lionesses' camp. Russell Martin was announced as the new Rangers manager and Wales geared up for their next World Cup qualifier in Cardiff on Friday night, when Scotland and the Republic of Ireland will both play friendlies. Lamine Yamal stars as Spain edge Les Blues An all-time classic in the Nations League semi-finals 🤯#NationsLeague — UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 5, 2025 Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal scored twice as holders Spain beat France 5-4 in an entertaining heavyweight clash in Stuttgart to book their place in the Nations League final against Portugal. Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino in the space of three minutes midway through the first half had put the European champions in control. Yamal, 17, slotted in a penalty soon after the restart, with Pedri then swiftly clipping home a fourth before Kylian Mbappe pulled a goal back for France from the spot in the 59th minute. After Lamal showed more fine close control to slide in a second goal, Lyon winger Rayan Cherki marked his debut off the bench when he crashed in a volley with 10 minutes left. A late own goal from Dani Vivian saw France claw back another before Randal Kolo Muani headed in during stoppage time. Spain, though, held out to make a third straight Nations League final, which will be played in Munich on Sunday. Sarina Wiegman shuts out the noise England boss Sarina Wiegman insisted there was no 'crisis' as she named a 23-strong squad for Euro 2025 following a tumultuous month for the Lionesses. It has been a far from settled few weeks as England prepared to defend their European crown, opening the campaign against France in Zurich on July 5. Both goalkeeper Mary Earps and attacker Fran Kirby had announced their retirement from international football, while defender Millie Bright pulled out of the tournament to prioritize her mental health, with Chelsea later confirming she had undergone minor knee surgery. Sarina Wiegman feels 'happy and excited' as focus sharpens ahead of Euro 2025 (Martin Rickett/PA) Wiegman, though, dismissed the idea the Lionesses camp is unsettled. Chelsea striker Lauren James, recovering from a hamstring injury, has been included in the squad, alongside 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang. 'We're going with this 23 to the Euros and I'm comfortable, happy and excited. For me it doesn't feel like a crisis at all,' Wiegman said. 'There is always noise, so we expect noise before we go into a tournament. The difference is in my first tournament, the attention and visibility with the women's team has increased. 'We have to deal with it and move on and focus on football.' Craig Bellamy wants Wales in focus Wales head coach Craig Bellamy wants his team in the right mindset against the rank outsiders (Adam Davy/PA) Wales boss Craig Bellamy says one of the world's worst football teams Liechtenstein have given him sleepless nights ahead of their World Cup qualifier. Liechtenstein – ranked 205th out of FIFA's 210 nations – have not won a competitive game since September 2020, and lost their opening two World Cup qualifiers in March. Bellamy, though, warned against any sense of complacency from his side in Cardiff on Friday night. 'We've prepared for Liechtenstein as we did for Turkey and everyone else – it doesn't matter who we play against,' the Wales boss said. 'I was up late last night. I didn't sleep well. Does that tell you something? I treat every team the same.' Russell Martin ready for Ibrox challenge Russell Martin is ready to meet the challenges head on at Ibrox (Steve Welsh/PA) New Rangers head coach Russell Martin has told sceptics he is looking to prove them wrong. News of the former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton manager's three-year deal at Ibrox has not gone down well with some supporters. However, former Scotland defender Martin, who had an unsuccessful loan period at Rangers in 2018, is ready to meet the challenges head on. 'My whole career has been based on proving people wrong, really. At every level I got questioned,' former Norwich captain Martin, 39, said. 'I got to the Premier League as a player, I wasn't convinced I could do it, but I managed to establish myself there for a little while, played international football, which I'm incredibly proud of. 'So it's the same again as a manager – I had to prove people wrong at every opportunity.' What's on today? England manager Thomas Tuchel will speak to the media ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Andorra (Bradley Collyer/PA) England boss Thomas Tuchel will hold a press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona. Wales later take on Liechtenstein in their Group J fixture in Cardiff, while Scotland play a friendly against Iceland as do the Republic of Ireland when they host Senegal. Ahead of all that on Friday morning, England under-21s coach Lee Carsley will name his squad for the upcoming European Championships in Slovakia.
Reuters
33 minutes ago
- Reuters
Bosnia's women rugby pioneers target Olympic qualification
ZENICA, Bosnia, June 6 (Reuters) - Erna Huseinovic fell in love with rugby after coaching young children at a local club in the central town of Zenica, the home of Bosnia's first women's rugby sevens team. A speedy winger, Huseinovic is preparing with her teammates for their first international competition in Croatia in September. "I found in rugby something that I did not find in other sports," said Huseinovic, a 25-year-old student at the Zenica faculty for sports. "The goal of my team is to achieve success in regional competitions and qualify for the 2032 Olympic Games," she said. Rugby has been played for 50 years in Zenica, and Celik, regular winners of rugby championships in the former Yugoslavia, established the first women's team last year after a previous attempt had failed during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our goal is to form women's teams in several cities across Bosnia so they can compete in domestic and international competitions," said Mirza Oruc, a vice-president of Bosnia's rugby association and coach of the national women's team. "We want to compete in rugby sevens and qualify for the Brisbane Olympic Games," Oruc told Reuters, adding that sevens was a version of rugby helping to break stereotypes about the tough sport being exclusively for men. Sara Hadzic, 25, heard about rugby at Zenica university, where she studies German language and literature. "I wanted to try something new and different, to meet new girlfriends," said Hadzic, who did karate as a child. "I am playing now recreationally but I might go professional in the future." The mothers of several children training at the Celik club decided to try out the sports themselves. "Rugby is love, friendship, socializing, family," said Brankica Sekerovic. "I have come to the club as a supporter during tournaments and met some wonderful mums ... and then came a love for rugby."
Powys County Times
34 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Friday briefing: Lamine Yamal stars for Spain and ‘no crisis' for Sarina Wiegman
Lamine Yamal starred after scoring a brace as holders Spain beat France 5-4 in a pulsating encounter in Stuttgart to reach the Nations League final. England boss Sarina Wiegman named her squad for Euro 2025 – insisting there was no 'crisis' in the Lionesses' camp. Russell Martin was announced as the new Rangers manager and Wales geared up for their next World Cup qualifier in Cardiff on Friday night, when Scotland and the Republic of Ireland will both play friendlies. Lamine Yamal stars as Spain edge Les Blues An all-time classic in the Nations League semi-finals 🤯 #NationsLeague — UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 5, 2025 Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal scored twice as holders Spain beat France 5-4 in an entertaining heavyweight clash in Stuttgart to book their place in the Nations League final against Portugal. Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino in the space of three minutes midway through the first half had put the European champions in control. Yamal, 17, slotted in a penalty soon after the restart, with Pedri then swiftly clipping home a fourth before Kylian Mbappe pulled a goal back for France from the spot in the 59th minute. After Lamal showed more fine close control to slide in a second goal, Lyon winger Rayan Cherki marked his debut off the bench when he crashed in a volley with 10 minutes left. A late own goal from Dani Vivian saw France claw back another before Randal Kolo Muani headed in during stoppage time. Spain, though, held out to make a third straight Nations League final, which will be played in Munich on Sunday. Sarina Wiegman shuts out the noise England boss Sarina Wiegman insisted there was no 'crisis' as she named a 23-strong squad for Euro 2025 following a tumultuous month for the Lionesses. It has been a far from settled few weeks as England prepared to defend their European crown, opening the campaign against France in Zurich on July 5. Both goalkeeper Mary Earps and attacker Fran Kirby had announced their retirement from international football, while defender Millie Bright pulled out of the tournament to prioritize her mental health, with Chelsea later confirming she had undergone minor knee surgery. Wiegman, though, dismissed the idea the Lionesses camp is unsettled. Chelsea striker Lauren James, recovering from a hamstring injury, has been included in the squad, alongside 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang. 'We're going with this 23 to the Euros and I'm comfortable, happy and excited. For me it doesn't feel like a crisis at all,' Wiegman said. 'There is always noise, so we expect noise before we go into a tournament. The difference is in my first tournament, the attention and visibility with the women's team has increased. 'We have to deal with it and move on and focus on football.' Craig Bellamy wants Wales in focus Wales boss Craig Bellamy says one of the world's worst football teams Liechtenstein have given him sleepless nights ahead of their World Cup qualifier. Liechtenstein – ranked 205th out of FIFA's 210 nations – have not won a competitive game since September 2020, and lost their opening two World Cup qualifiers in March. Bellamy, though, warned against any sense of complacency from his side in Cardiff on Friday night. 'We've prepared for Liechtenstein as we did for Turkey and everyone else – it doesn't matter who we play against,' the Wales boss said. 'I was up late last night. I didn't sleep well. Does that tell you something? I treat every team the same.' Russell Martin ready for Ibrox challenge New Rangers head coach Russell Martin has told sceptics he is looking to prove them wrong. News of the former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton manager's three-year deal at Ibrox has not gone down well with some supporters. However, former Scotland defender Martin, who had an unsuccessful loan period at Rangers in 2018, is ready to meet the challenges head on. 💙 — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 5, 2025 'My whole career has been based on proving people wrong, really. At every level I got questioned,' former Norwich captain Martin, 39, said. 'I got to the Premier League as a player, I wasn't convinced I could do it, but I managed to establish myself there for a little while, played international football, which I'm incredibly proud of. 'So it's the same again as a manager – I had to prove people wrong at every opportunity.' What's on today? England boss Thomas Tuchel will hold a press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona. Wales later take on Liechtenstein in their Group J fixture in Cardiff, while Scotland play a friendly against Iceland as do the Republic of Ireland when they host Senegal.
