BEAVER CREEK, Colo. – The final ladies’ event of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships is underway with defending slalom world champion, Mikaela Shiffrin, leading on run one, 0.40 seconds ahead of Swede Frida Hansdotter and 0.44 seconds ahead of Sarka Strachova of the Czech Republic.

Shiffrin is looking to add the second gold medal in as many events for the American team after Ted Ligety came from behind yesterday to take his third straight world title in giant slalom. Skiing second out of the gate, Shiffrin laid down a clean, fast run on a turny and technical course that none of the remaining competitors could match.

“I’m glad with that run – really solid skiing. It was a technical course, so it was right up my alley. Hopefully second run, I probably expect that they’ll set a little bit straighter,” said Shiffrin. “Most of these girls are really awesome technical skiers but like higher speed courses, and I do too. So I expect that it will be a little higher speed, a little quicker feet.”

Hansdotter is looking for her second consecutive World Championship medal, after finishing third in Schladming in 2013, and the second team medal for Sweden during these championships. The veteran Strachova already owns three World Championship medals, including gold in 2007 from Are. After dealing with health problems for the past several season, Strachova has rebounded with strong results in 2015, highlighted by a second-place finish in the Kuehtai World Cup in December.

American Paula Moltzan will be the first out of the start on run two after finishing 30th this morning. Resi Stiegler admitted she suffered a knee injury about a month ago that threw a wrench in her plan, but she competed despite the injury and finished 35th. Hailey Duke and Megan McJames finished 38th and 43rd. But during the second run, all eyes will be on Shiffrin to see if she can become the third woman to win back-to-back slalom world titles, and the first since Janica Kostelic in 2005.

“You know, I did get rid of some of the nerves. I’ve been training for the past three weeks,” said Shiffrin. “I’ve been trying to train in courses with some ruts, a little bit softer snow, more slushy, so if that’s kind of shaping up to be what the conditions are going to look like second run, I think I prepared really well and I’m ready to go. It’s just about doing it.”

The time gap from first to 10th is 1.18 seconds, and with temperatures reaching upwards of 50 degrees it should shape up to be an exciting final event for the women.

Second run is scheduled to start at 2:15 p.m. MT.