Alaska News

UAA's Berther 12th in super-G

UAA freshman Vanessa Berther finished 12th overall, and third among junior skiers, in Friday's super-G at the U.S. Alpine Ski Championships in Winter Park, Colo.

Also, Anchorage's Kieffer Christianson finished 15th in the men's super-G, duplicating his finish in Thursday's slalom.

Berther, 20, of Bellevue, Wash., finished in 1 minute, 13.64 seconds. Olympian Julie Mancuso crushed the field -- she finished in 1:10.38, 1.20 seconds faster than runner-up Leanne Smith -- to grab her 14th national championship.

Berther earlier this month finished eighth in the giant slalom at the NCAA championships to earn All-American status.

Christianson, 19, was clocked in 1:12.05, just 1.71 behind winner Dustin Cook of Canada (1:10.34).

The championships continue Saturday with the women's giant slalom and wrap Sunday with the men's giant slalom.

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