Kitt Wins 1st National Title in Super Giant Slalom Race

Downhill specialist A. J. Kitt captured his first national title, winning the super giant slalom today at the U.S. Alpine Ski Championships.

Kitt, 21, of Rochester, N.Y., had a clocking of 1 minute, 29.83 seconds to overtake Todd Kelly of Squaw Valley, Calif., who finished second in 1:30.07.

Kyle Wieche of Farmington, Conn., was third in 1:30.25. Bill Johnson of Tahoe, Calif., and Stefan Schadinger of Montgomery Center, Vt., tied for fourth in 1:30.37. Defending champion Tommy Moe of Palmer, Alaska, was sixth in 1:30.53.

Kitt, whose fourth-place finish in a World Cup downhill earlier this month in Italy was the best result by an American male skier this season, had a nearly flawless run.

“I was a little ragged in the turns, but I ran the bottom real well and I wasn’t off-line anywhere,” Kitt said.

Kitt, who finished second to Skip Merrick in Monday’s downhill, and Kelly, who was fourth in the downhill, were early contenders for the combined title.

The women’s super-G was scheduled later today.