Mancuso edges Goetschl, wins World Cup downhill

Julia Mancuso won a downhill Tuesday for her first World Cup victory, with teammate Lindsey Kildow third in a strong American finish at Val D’Isere, France.

Mancuso, the Olympic giant slalom champion, completed the 1.55-mile course in 1 minute 38.93 seconds. Renate Goetschl was the runner-up, 0.43 seconds behind. Kildow, winner in Val D’Isere last year, was next in 1:39.47.

“To win my first World Cup race feels good, but I always knew it was there, it was just the case of being able to execute,” Mancuso said. “That was a pretty solid run I’d say, my skis were working for me.”

Mancuso won her first race since taking the grand slalom in Turin in February. She placed 10th and 39th in downhill races at Lake Louise this month.

“I was pretty nervous actually, though I knew I had a pretty good run, but you really never know in skiing,” Mancuso said.

Kildow leads the downhill standings with 240 points, 85 more than Goetschl.

Shani Davis won a head-to-head duel in the 5,000 meters with 2006 Olympic champion Chad Hedrick at the U.S. Allround Long Track Speedskating Championships at West Allis, Wis.

Davis finished in 6 minutes 24.93 seconds to edge Hedrick, who skated alongside Davis in the final pair and clocked a 6:25.47. Besides winning the 5,000 at the Turin Games, Hedrick also took home a bronze and a silver.

Davis also won the 500 meters with a 36.52 to again beat Hedrick, who was second in 37.60.

Jessica Smith won the women’s 500 in 41.04, and Catherine Raney the 3,000 in 4:14.46.

BASEBALL

Gagne says his injuries are behind him

Texas finalized its $6-million, one-year contract with former Dodgers reliever Eric Gagne, who said he is confident his string of injuries are behind him.

“I have no doubt in my mind I’ll be healthy on the mound all year. I haven’t felt this good for two or 2 1/2 years,” Gagne said. “I know I haven’t lost anything.... I still know how to pitch. It’s just a matter of getting back on the mound.”

Gagne pitched only 16 games the last two seasons.

“My arm feels great.... I’m just excited to start throwing and get to spring training healthy,” he said. “For two years, I’ve been a cheerleader. I haven’t really done anything for the team. I’ve been hurt. That’s very frustrating.”

Former Dodgers outfielder Jayson Werth joined the Philadelphia Phillies after missing last season following wrist surgery.

Werth agreed to an $850,000, one-year contract with the chance to earn $150,000 more in performance bonuses. He figures to give the Phillies depth in the outfield.

“I’m looking forward to playing in Philadelphia,” Werth said. “To be grouped in with a bunch of good young hitters, it feels like a great fit.”

The San Francisco Giants and free agent first baseman Ryan Klesko agreed to terms on a $1.75-million, one-year contract, giving the club another option at first along with recently acquired Rich Aurilia.

Klesko spent the last seven seasons with San Diego after playing his first eight years in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves.

The 35-year-old Klesko appeared in only six games in 2006 after surgery on his left shoulder in April. He was bothered by soreness in his throwing shoulder late in spring training and started the season on the disabled list. He had three hits with a double and two RBIs in four at-bats.

The Minnesota Twins and outfielder Rondell White reached a preliminary agreement on a $2.75-million, one-year contract.

White must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.

White could make $8.5 million if he has 650 plate appearances or more in each of the next two seasons.

Brad Radke made it official, retiring from baseball.

The 34-year-old right-hander pitched the last two seasons for the Minnesota Twins with a torn labrum, and a stress fracture in the joint added to the pain. Surgery would have been required for him to continue, and he wasn’t interested in a lengthy rehabilitation.

“There’s not enough money in the world that’s going to bring me back,” Radke said.

Jason Marquis and the Chicago Cubs finalized their $21-million, three-year contract after the right-hander took a physical.

Marquis has gone 56-52 with a 4.55 earned-run average in six-plus seasons with Atlanta and St. Louis.

MISCELLANY

Wie gets word she is accepted to Stanford

Michelle Wie, the 17-year-old Honolulu Punahou senior, said she got accepted to Stanford and will enroll in the fall, dispelling any talk she would concentrate exclusively on her professional golf career once she finished high school.

Junior running back Milton Knox of Lake Balboa Birmingham has completed a sweep of the postseason awards in the City Section, being selected the City player of the year by a panel of sportswriters after winning a similar award from the section’s coaches. Knox led Birmingham to its second City Championship Division title in the last three years.

Former UCLA gymnast Kate Richardson has been chosen as one of eight recipients of this year’s NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award, which honors the nation’s top eight student-athletes for their athletics success, academic achievement and community service.