Masters nationals: Montana's Kaufman finds speed

New faces abounded as training run No. 2 got under way on Sunday for the masters national championship. 

BIG SKY, Montana — New faces abounded as training run No. 2 got under way on Sunday for the masters national championship.  
    Jennifer Kaufman (W3-RM) blew away the women’s competition and would have placed 15th in the men’s field in what was her first training run. As a native Montanan, Kaufman showed her experience on this course from years of junior racing. The defending overall DH champion and a previous winner on this course, Heidi Lindemer (W3-CN), was more than three seconds off the pace, followed by Far West’s Deb Lewis (W6).
    There was no lack of excitement in the men’s race, as racer after racer attempted daring, but not always sustainable, race lines. Once again it was Willi Scroggins (M5-PN) prevailing for the men, taking Franz Fuchsberger (M5-RM) by almost a second. The ageless Pepi Neubauer (M8-EA) held on to third overall as the next 10 racers were all packed within a second behind Neubauer.
    The national championship downhill race takes place on Monday. Click here to see second-run training results.