Alpine World Cup Finals: Stiegler career-best fourth in slalom; Kostelic wins

Alpine World Cup Finals: Stiegler career-best fourth in slalom; Kostelic winsARE, Sweden – Resi Stiegler finished in a tie for fourth in the slalom at World Cup Finals on Friday, a career-best performance for the Jackson Hole native.

“Today was exactly how I wanted to end the season,” said Stiegler, who had the third-fastest second run. “It’s sweet because I had such a rough season. I broke my leg and hurt my knee, but I kept pushing through it and had really good results, but not quite what I wanted.”

Had Stiegler finished on the podium, she would have helped set a record by becoming the eighth different American to finish on at least one World Cup podium in a single season.

But Stiegler said she was happy to finish just outside the top three, because it gave her something to shoot for next year.

Janica Kostelic of Croatia was the winner, a day after clinching in the 2005-06 overall World Cup title. Marlies Schild and Anja Paerson were second and third.

Aside from Stiegler, two Americans were in the race; Lindsey Kildow was 17th and Julia Mancuso did not start the second run (after first-run mistakes, she wanted some rest).

The three skiers are expected to represent the United States in the nations team event on Sunday.

Stiegler said she plans to race at U.S. Alpine National Championships, but not train much this spring or early summer; she said she overtrained last year, and is ready for a break.

“After the Olympics I had a talk with my dad, and he was like, you’re young, you mature later, keep up the hard work,” she said. “That’s what I’ve been doing. I had a good time in Norway. Finland was good, good runs. Still pushing it, wanting a podium.”

Women’s slalom
Are, Sweden
March 17, 2006
1. Janica Kostelic, CRO 1:45.28
2. Marlies Schild, AUT 1:46.15
3. Anja Paerson, SWE 1:46.34
4. Resi Stiegler, USA 1:46.84
4. Tanja Poutiainen, FIN 1:46.84
6. Maria Pietilae-Holmner, SWE 1:47.32
7. Anna Ottosson, SWE 1:47.40
8. Michaela Kirchgasser, AUT 1:47.69
9. Kathrin Zettel, AUT 1:47.88
10. Sarka Zahrobska, CZE 1:48.02
11. Ana Jelusic, CRO 1:48.19
12. Therese Borssen, SWE 1:48.40
13. Laure Pequegnot, FRA 1:48.87
14. Nika Fleiss, CRO 1:49.21
15. Henna Raita, FIN 1:49.25
16. Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer, GER 1:49.33
17. Lindsey Kildow, USA 1:49.45
18. Elisabeth Goergl, AUT 1:49.91
Other North American:
DNS 2nd: Julia Mancuso, USA.

THE SCOOP

By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women’s slalom, Are, March 17, 2006
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Kostelic, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2. Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3. Paerson, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
4. Stiegler, Dynastar/Lange/Look
4. Poutiainen, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
6. Pietilae-Holmner, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
7. Ottosson, Dynastar/Lange/Tyrolia
8. Kirchgasser, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
9. Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10. Zahrobska, Head/Head/Tyrolia

Women’s slalom, Are, Sweden, March 17, 2006. … It is the 35th event of the women’s 34 race, two combined World Cup schedule. … It is the ninth of nine slaloms.

It is the 29th career World Cup win for Janica Kostelic, matching her with Stephan Eberharter in 13th on the all-time win list. … She is two wins behind Erika Hess for seventh among women all-time. … It is her 20th career slalom win for fifth best all-time and third among women behind Vreni Schneider (33) and Erika Hess (21). … It is her eighth win of the season (ninth including the Olympic gold medal in combined) and third in slalom. … She did not miss a World Cup slalom podium all season.

It is the 21st career podium for Marlies Schild. … The 17th in slalom. … It is her eighth podium of the season (also collected two Olympic medals – silver combined, bronze slalom).

It is the 70th career podium for Anja Paerson. … Her 33rd in slalom. … It is her 15th podium of the season (also collected three Olympic medals gold SL, bronze DH and combined).

It is a career-best result for Resi Stiegler… Her previous best had been eighth, accomplished three times. … It is her third top 10 of the season, all in slalom. … Lindsey Kildow scores no points in 17th place.

Janica Kostelic’s lead in the overall World Cup standings is 1,870-1,626 over Anja Paerson with one race remaining. … She clinched the overall title during the SG March 16. … It is the third overall title for Kostelic, having previously won in 2001 and 2003. … Michaela Dorfmeister (did not race) is third in the overall standings at 1,344 and Lindsey Kildow fourth at 1,067. … Nicole Hosp, fifth with 1,052, was disqualified in the race. …

Janica Kostelic wins the slalom title 740-550 over Marlies Schild. … It is her third, having previously won the slalom title in 2001 and 2003. … Anja Paerson at 485 points is third in the slalom standings. … Lindsey Kildow, in ninth with 214 points, is the top American in the final slalom standings. … Winning margin is .87 of a second. … Just the top two skiers are within the same second. … Top five are within two seconds.