Page 17 - ATD28NOV2015

SPORTS A17
Saturday 28 November 2015

Gut wins MISSING
MAN-NING
giant slalom
Patriots face tall task in tackling Broncos defense
as Shiffrin
In this Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 file photo,
crashes Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton
Manning (18) smiles and acknowledges
PAT GRAHAM the crowd after setting the new passing
AP Sports Writer record against the Kansas City Chiefs dur-
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Mi- ing the first half of an NFL football game in
kaela Shiffrin was just a few Denver.
turns from winning a World Associated Press
Cup race at home for the Page 20
first time.
Shiffrin sensed victory. The
crowd sensed victory. Even
her competitors were basi-
cally resigned to her vic-
tory.
And then she caught an
edge and went down with
the finish line in sight and a
big lead, giving Lara Gut
of Switzerland a stunning
giant slalom win Friday.
As Shiffrin buried her face
in the snow, Gut watched
in disbelief. She has been in
that position plenty of times
and knows the feeling.
“It’s unusual that Mikaela
does mistakes like that,”
said Gut, who captured
her 13th World Cup win.
“But that’s part of the
game.
One day you win, one day
you crash. For me, it’s bet-
ter to win one day and
crash the other day than
be in 25th twice.”
Gut completed the course
in a two-run combined
time of 2 minutes, 2.51 sec-
onds, edging Austria’s Eva-
Maria Brem by 0.10 sec-
onds. Federica Brignone of
Italy took third.
This was a rough day for
the U.S. all around. Lindsey
Vonn lost her left ski during
the first run and slid into the
netting.
“Tough course,” Gut said.
“There are never two gates
that are easy to ski. You
have to push hard from the
top to the finish.”
Shiffrin was the first-run
leader and was cruising to-
ward a win.

Continued from page 18