Crans-Montana, Switzerland – Italy’s Elena Curtoni closed the FIS Alpine Junior World Championships Saturday in Crans-Montana with a win in the super G race. Abby Ghent, of Edwards, Colo., led the U.S. in 20th while Team Canada placed two in the top 20.nCurtoni stole the show, claiming gold with a time of 1:28.23 edging out the host country’s Jasmin Rothmund. Austria’s Cornelia Huetter rounded out the top three taking bronze. Curtoni has qualified for the FIS World Championships starting this week in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, German, in the super G and super combined events.

Ghent was the first of three U.S. athletes to crack inside the top 30 with Anna Marno, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Salt Lake City, Utah’s Rose Caston finishing close behind in 23rd and 26th, respectively.

The fastest Canadian on Saturday was Canmore, Alberta’s Madison McLeish, 18, who finished in 14th place for her best result during these World Championships.

“My run was okay but I was hoping for a little bit more out of it. I’ve been thinking of this super-G since the downhill. For the amount of speed training I did this season though I have to be happy with this result,” said McLeish.

McLeish was followed by Canadian teammate Madison Irwin from Toronto, Ontario, in 17th. Neither Julia Roth from Waterloo, Ontario, nor Sarah Freeman from Pincher Creek, Alberta, were able to finish.

Saturday’s super G race wrapped up the 2011 FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships. The U.S. and Canadian men and women are heading stateside for NorAm races in Colorado.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Alpine Junior World Championships
Crans-Montana, Switzerland – Feb. 5, 2011
Super G

Gold: Elena Curtoni, Italy, 1:28.23
Silver: Jasmin Rothmund, Switzerland, 1:28.53
Bronze: Cornelia Huetter, Austria, 1:28.90