Maribor, Slovenia (Sunday, January 26, 2003) - Anja Paerson of Sweden won her second World Cup race in two days Sunday, surviving a ragged second run to win a slalom with World Cup leader Janica Kostelica of Croatia – responding to the wild enthusiasm of thousands of red-and-white-draped fans – in second place. Kristina Koznick (Burnsville, MN) was the only American to make the second run and finished seventh.

Outdoor Life Network will broadcast coverage today at 4 p.m. EST.

Paerson, who won Saturday's giant slalom in Maribor, and Kostelic have won all seven slaloms this season; Kostelic, who had four victories, saw a three-SL streak snipped as Paerson took her third victory. The winning time was 1:39.98 with Kostelic second in 1:39.16 and Austrian Nicole Hosp third.

KOZ PRODUCES HER SEASON'S BEST
Koznick's showing was her best slalom result of the winter. She finished in 1:39.79, moving up one spot in the final run.

"Actually, although there's no result to show it, the girls skied pretty well. Sarah [Schleper – Vail, CO] was seventh at the intermediate before she went out and Jules [Julia Mancuso – Olympic Valley, CA] was 19th…but they didn't make it down," said U.S. women's Head Coach Marjan Cernigoj. Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) didn't qualify for the second run.

"Even though they were charging, their energy has been low. Several of the girls have been sick, so it's good to have some time off for a few days before the World Championships," Cernigoj said. The Worlds team is expected to be announced by Monday.

After a sloppy first run of giant slalom Saturday, organizers put chemicals on the snow and came up with a hardening conditions for the second GS run and very solid snow for the slalom, he said. "They did an outstanding job of preparation. The snow was excellent."

The first women's race at the Worlds in St. Moritz, Switzerland, is the super G on the second day of the championships, Feb. 2.

CANADIANS DISAPPOINTED

Canadians Britt Janyk and Emily Brydon raced in front of the loud and cheering crowds that topped 30,000. Janyk made only one mistake in the first run, but it did cost her a qualification for the second run – she finished 32nd. Brydon was also unable to qualify for the second run, finishing 41st, while Allison Forsyth is resting up to be fresh at World Championships and did not start Sunday’s race.

FIS Ski World Cup 2002/2003
Maribor (SLO) 26-01-2003
Women’s slalom – top 10

Rank (Bib) Name, Nation, Time 1st run, Time 2nd run, Total Time, Total Diff.
1. (4) PAERSON Anja, SWE, 48.80, 50.18, 1:38.98, 0.00
2. (5) KOSTELIC J., CRO, 49.47, 49.69, 1:39.16, + 0.18
3. (17) HOSP Nicole, AUT, 49.86, 49.46, 1:39.32, + 0.34
4. (12) SCHILD Marlies, AUT, 50.02, 49.34, 1:39.36, + 0.38
5. (3) PEQUEGNOT L., FRA, 49.63, 49.99, 1:39.62, + 0.64
5. (2) PASCAL C., FRA, 49.52, 50.10, 1:39.62, + 0.64
7. (15) KOZNICK K., USA, 49.98, 49.81, 1:39.79, + 0.81
8. (1) POUTIAINEN T., FIN, 50.24, 49.83, 1:40.07, + 1.09
9. (27) GRUENENFELDER, SUI, 50.44, 49.90, 1:40.34, + 1.36
10. (11) ROGNMO-BAKKE, NOR, 49.57, 51.02, 1:40.59, + 1.61

Americans who did not qualify for 2nd run: Resi Stiegler, Jackson Hole, WY

American DNF-1: Sarah Schleper, Vail, CO; Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, CA

Canadians:
32. (42) Britt Janyk, Whistler, B.C., 52.23, DNQ 2nd run
41. (38) Emily Brydon, Fernie, B.C., 52.64, DNQ 2nd run
Allison Forsyth, Nanaimo, B.C. DNS 1st run

World Cup Standings

Women's Overall (24 races)
1. Kostelic – 1,342 points
2. Karen Putzer, Italy, 790
3. Paerson, 760
4. Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria, 697
5. Martina Ertl, Germany, 619
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10. Kirsten Clark, Raymond, ME, 485
14. Caroline Lalive, Steamboat Springs, CO, 308
22. Schleper, 249
25. Jonna Mendes, Heavenly, CA, 213
40. Koznick, 135
70. Libby Ludlow, Bellevue, WA, 44
76T. Katie Monahan, Aspen, CO, 39
89. Stiegler, 24
104T. Bryna McCarty, Concord, VT, 6

Women's SL (7 races)
1. Kostelic, 610
2. Paerson, 378
3. Christel Pascal, France, 303
4. Tanja Poutiainen, Finland, 272
5. Schild, 253
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11. Schleper, 159
16T. Koznick, 112
38. Stiegler, 24
43. Mancuso, 17