Beauport, Quebec Feb. 21 (AP)--Austria's Thomas Graggaber edged teammate Klaus Kroell by 0.08 seconds Monday to win the downhill on the opening day of the World Junior Championships.
``It was a little icy and it is very difficult to drive the ski in those conditions,'' said Graggaber, who completed the short course at Mont Ste. Anne Ski Area in 1 minute, 10.77 seconds.
Germany's Martin Kraus finished third in 1:11.40. Travis Townes of Minturn, Colo., was the top U.S. racer, finishing 10th.
Switzerland's Fraenzi Aufdenblatten won the women's downhill in 1:13.47. Italy's Lucia Recchia was second in 1:13.61, and Austria's Christine Sponring followed in 1:13.73.
``I never, never thought I could win,'' Aufdenblatten said. ``A top 10 would have been great for me. It's incredible. I don't know what to say.''
Julia Mancuso of Tahoe City, Calif., finished 11th.
Copyright (c) 2000 The Associated Press
