Benshoof Eyeing Medal

Tony Benshoof is two safe and speedy runs from securing an Olympic medal that has eluded the once-laughable U.S. luge program for 42 years. He’ll gladly settle for silver or bronze.

The gold, it appears, belongs to Armin Zoeggeler -- again.

Benshoof, sliding with confidence and control, was in third place after Saturday’s first two runs at Cesana, putting him in position to become the first American slider to medal in singles luge -- long dominated by the Germans, Italians and Austrians.

Thanks to Benshoof, the Americans may soon have their own place in sledding history.

The 30-year-old from White Bear Lake, Minn., is 0.233 of a second behind Italy’s Zoeggeler, the defending Olympic champion, who twice lowered the track record and shows no signs of slowing down on his home ice.

“He’s the best,” said Benshoof, who watched Zoeggeler complete his second run on a giant TV screen while speaking with reporters. “He’ll win the gold for sure.”

Russia’s Albert Demtschenko, who crashed in his final three World Cup races this season, is second, trailing Zoeggeler by 0.158 of a second.

Germany’s Georg Hackl, the three-time Olympic champion who says he’s calling it quits after today’s two heats, is in fifth but well within striking distance of winning an unprecedented sixth Olympic medal in as many appearances.

Digging his spiked gloves into the ice on his second run, Benshoof pounded his way toward the opening straightaway and sped cleanly through all 19 curves, topping out at 86.4 mph in one section before crossing the finish line. Benshoof had been fourth after the first run, which ended just as sun set.

If not for a slow start in both heats, Benshoof might be the one Zoeggeler and Demtschenko were chasing.

“My runs are getting better,” said Benshoof, who nearly crashed during a go-for-broke second run at the Salt Lake City Games four years ago and ended up 17th. “My lines aren’t perfect, but they are going in the right direction. I’m just moving forward, having fun on the sled.”

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BIATHLON

Bjoerndalen Falters; Greis Takes Advantage

Ole Einar Bjoerndalen collapsed across the finish line, with Michael Greis of Germany skiing just out of his reach.

A shot at history, however, is still within the Norwegian’s grasp.

Bjoerndalen’s two missed targets cost him the first gold medal awarded at the Turin Olympics, and he settled for the silver in the men’s 20-kilometer biathlon at Cesana.

Bjoerndalen, who swept all four biathlon golds at Salt Lake City, remains the favorite in the four remaining races, including the mass start, which was added for the 2006 Games.

The 32-year-old Norwegian has stood atop the podium five times before in his sensational career that includes 57 World Cup wins. If he can win out in the Italian Alps, he would become the most successful athlete in the history of the Winter Games, eclipsing fellow countryman Bjorn Daehlie, a cross-country skier who collected his eighth gold medal at Nagano in 1998.

“I could still break the record,” said Bjoerndalen, smiling.

Bjoerndalen finished 16 seconds behind Greis, whose time was 54 minutes 23 seconds. Bjoerndalen’s teammate, Halvard Hanevold, took the bronze in 55:31.9, edging Russia’s Sergei Tchepikov by less than a second in a race that also featured the best biathlon finish by an American.

Alaskan Jay Hakkinen took 10th in a time of 56:10.9.

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NORDIC COMBINED

German Hettich Pulls Big Surprise to Win Gold

Georg Hettich refused to think about a gold medal despite two strong rounds of jumping that gave him the lead in the Nordic combined individual event.

He’d been in this situation before, only to struggle in the cross-country portion and fail to reach the top of the podium.

This time, the 27-year-old German held on to his slim lead from the jump on the way to a surprising victory at Pragelato.

“I never won a World Cup competition,” said Hettich, still red-faced about an hour after his finish. “I won jumping, but never won the whole competition. This morning when I won [jumping], I was feeling happy but I didn’t try to think about winning a gold medal.”

Hettich finished the 15-kilometer cross-country race in 39 minutes 44.6 seconds, 9.8 seconds ahead of surging silver medalist Felix Gottwald of Austria. Norway’s Magnus Moan took home the bronze in a close finish with countryman Petter Tande.

Finland’s Hannu Manninen was favored to win this event, with Hettich hardly considered a contender.

Manninen, the leading Nordic combined competitor in recent years with 11 World Cup victories this season, finished ninth after entering the Turin Olympics as the man to beat -- still leaving him without an individual medal in his fourth and probably final Games.

American Todd Lodwick had a frustrating day to kick off his fourth and last Olympics, placing eighth after a seventh-place showing in this event in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

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SKI JUMPING

Norway’s Bystoel Out After Suit Violations

Lars Bystoel of Norway, the leader in qualifying for the normal hill ski jumping event, was eliminated for violating suit regulations, putting Andreas Kuettel and Andreas Kofler at the head of the field for today’s final at Pragelato.

Kuettel, of Switzerland, had a jump of 104 meters and shared first place with Kofler of Austria, who jumped 103.5 meters. Both had 134.5 points.

Finland’s Janne Ahonen had the day’s longest jump of 104.5 meters and was third with 133.5 points.