American Kearney Wins Moguls Event

World champion Hannah Kearney of the United States won a World Cup moguls event yesterday in Tignes, France, while reigning champion Jeremy Bloom was fourth in his event.

Kearney had 25.75 points while runner-up Jennifer Heil of Canada finished with 25.37.

"I want to win everything this season," said Kearney, referring to the Turin Olympics. "That's my goal, but everyone here is going to be challenging. It's kind of up in the air."

Finland's Tapio Luusua won the men's event with 25.64 points, followed by Japan's Yugo Tsukita (25.63), Finland's Sami Mustonen (25.44) and Bloom (25.19). Bloom was forced out of college football and is seeking a spot on the U.S. Olympic ski team.

SKELETON: Maya Pedersen of Switzerland took the lead in the overall World Cup standings with an easy victory in Sigulda, Latvia.

Pedersen posted the fastest times in both heats to finish in a combined 1 minute 51.11 seconds, 0.61 faster than Kerstin Juergens of Germany. Mellisa Hollingsworth-Richards of Canada was third, 0.82 behind Pedersen.

Eighth was reigning World Cup champion Noelle Pikus-Pace of the United States, racing for just the second time since missing seven weeks with a broken leg.

SKIING: Didier Defago of Switzerland acknowledged he was rightly disqualified from a World Cup race for having improper skis.

"It was an error and I must accept it," he said at a news conference in Val Gardena, Italy, following downhill training.

Defago expressed support for his ski supplier and those who prepared his skis. He lost an estimated $90,150 in prize money and sponsor bonuses that would have come with the victory.

The distance between the base of Defago's ski and the sole of his boot for Sunday's super-combined race in Val d'Isere, France, was above the International Ski Federation limit of 2.17 inches.

DOWNHILL: Not a good day for Bode Miller.

First, he finished 17th during downhill training in Val Gardena, Italy. Then, the overall World Cup champion was ordered to walk the long way around the finish area to reach his motor home.

That was all he needed to get rolling into a rant about his call for liberalized drug rules in sports.

"Nobody will talk to anyone about anything," Miller said. "It's a joke not being able to talk about an issue that's getting guys disqualified and ending their careers," he added. "They [sports officials] just make whatever new rules they want and get a paycheck for it."

Miller also criticized the international federation for the way it manages schedules and athletes.