Maribor, Slovenia (Saturday, January 24, 2004) - Sweden's Anja Paerson reclaimed the World Cup lead Saturday as she posted the fastest second run to win a giant slalom by nearly a full second over Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria. Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME) was 18th and led four U.S. women into the top 30.

Paerson, second to Dorfmeister in the first run, had a total time of 2:18.27 with the Austrian runnerup in 2:19.25. Temperatures were in the mid 30s under a sunny sky.

Clark moved up 10 places on the final run and had a two-run time of 2:21.50. Libby Ludlow (Bellevue, WA) reached her first GS final run and earned a top-20 as she finished 19th, just .01 behind Clark. Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) was 21st and Caroline Lalive (Steamboat Springs, CO) finished 27th.

The women run a slalom Sunday in Maribor and then head to Haus, Austria, for two downhills and a super G Jan. 30-Feb. 1.