American Earns First Victory

American Marco Sullivan won the downhill yesterday in Chamonix, France, to claim his first World Cup victory, while teammate Bode Miller finished seventh.

Sullivan covered the 2.08-mile Verte des Houches course in 2 minutes 0.11 of a second.

"I knew I could kill 'em with my gliding if I could carry my speed off the top," said Sullivan, a two-time Olympian. "It all came together. . . . I had a couple of small scrubs [of time] on top, but I knew this was my kind of course and I knew I had a good run."

The 27-year-old got his first World Cup podium finish in November, when he came in second in a downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta, another course that is good for skiers who can maintain their speed across the flatter sections of a course.

"I had a lot of injuries. It's the first time in a while I've been healthy," Sullivan said.

He tore ligaments in his right knee in December 2003, then re-injured the knee and missed the entire 2005 season.

"I had bib number 11 and that's my sister's favorite number. I talked to her last night and told her I was gonna lay one down for her," said Sullivan, who was also thinking of injured teammates Steven Nyman and Scott Macartney.

"I felt like I was skiing for more people than myself."

Didier Cuche of Switzerland, the discipline leader, was 0.40 of a second back. Andrej Jerman of Slovenia was third.

Miller finished in 2:00.91, faster than Sullivan at the first two stages before losing time in the lower section.

Cuche extended his lead in the downhill standings with 464 points, followed by Miller with 399. Sullivan moved up to fourth with 278, 65 behind third-place Michael Walchhofer of Austria. . . .

Denise Karbon overcame a broken bone in her left thumb to win a giant slalom World Cup race at Ofterschwang, Germany, her fifth victory in six races this season.