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Croatian's star rising Teenager Kostelic wins women's slalom
Posted: Sunday December 12, 1999 11:50 AM
SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) -- Rising teenage star Janica Kostelic of Croatia, overcoming pains from a bruised leg, on Sunday won a women's World Cup slalom beating second-place Anja Paerson of Sweden by more than one second. The second season victory vaulted the 17-year-old Croat skier atop the World Cup overall standings, while strengthening her lead in the specialty standings. Kostelic had 420 points after ten events. Austrian speed specialist Michaela Dorfmeister was second with 342. She did not compete in Sunday's slalom. Kostelic, a questionable starter at Sestriere after she bruised her right thigh following a spill in training Saturday, clocked the fastest time in both runs for a winning aggregate of one minute, 39.36 seconds in the third slalom race of the season. Paerson, 18, finished second in 1:40.48. France's Christel Saioni took third place, 2.08 seconds slower than the winner. "I felt pain especially in the first run," said Kostelic, who gave a simple explanation on how she put up weight noticeably in the offseason. "At last I had regular meals and I ate much more. It's no secret. I feel stronger this season and shorter skis are helping me a lot," Kostelic added. Norway's Trine Bakke finished fourth, ahead of the day surprise, France's Helene Richad. Richard, only 20th after the first run, climbed to fifth -- her best career result -- by setting the second fastest time in the second run. "I really had a sensational second run, but I can regret the first," the young French skier said. Kostelic, who had dominated the previous slalom race at Serre Chevalier, France, won at the Giovanni Alberto Agnelli course in this north Italian resort which will host Alpine ski events during the 2006 Winter Olympics. "I'm not looking forward to the overall World Cup title. But I have a dream, an Olympic title," Kostelic said. Other top finishers included Austrian Sabine Egger (6th), New Zealander Claudia Riegler (7th) and American Kristina Koznick (8th). Koznick lost time in the bottom flat part of the course, after clocking a fast intermediate time in the second run. The next World Cup races of the women's circuit, two downhills and a Super-G, are scheduled in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Dec. 17-19.
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