Alpine skiing-Venier fastest in downhill training

Austria's Stephanie Venier set the fastest time in the second training run for the women's downhill at the Alpine ski world championships in Meribel on Thursday with compatriot Mirjam Puchner and Sofia Goggia from Italy coming in close behind.

Venier beat Puchner by 0.01 seconds, while Goggia came in 0.17 seconds behind Venier in third.

Reigning world champion Corinne Suter from Switzerland was 13th, 1.21 seconds behind Venier, while one the favourites, American Mikaela Shiffrin, did not participate.

Goggia won the first training session on Tuesday, beating fellow Italian Elena Curtoni.

The women's downhill is scheduled for Saturday.