JanicaWins Twice
Janica Kostelic of Croatia, center, winner of a World Cupwomen’s Slalom, celebrates on the podium with second placed Sweden’s AnjaPaerson, left, and third placed Monika Bergmann of Germany, in Are, Sweden,Saturday, March 8, 2003. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Kostelic gets fifthslalom victory, ends course jinx
By The AssociatedPress
ARE, Sweden — Janica Kostelic had already wrapped up the overall World Cuptitle before yesterday’s race. So she took care of some unfinished business,winning at a place where she had never performed well.
Kostelic won her fifth World Cup slalom of the season, beating Sweden’s AnjaPaerson by more than half a second.
Kostelic, the Olympic and world champion from Croatia, had a combined two-runtotal of 1 minute, 45.84 seconds on a course set by her father and coach, AnteKostelic.
“It was really nice to finally get a good result here,” saidKostelic, who had never finished in the Top 10 on the course, the northernmoston the World Cup circuit. “I gave everything I had. This hill is not sochallenging, so you really must attack.”
Sarah Schleper of Vail, Colo., was the top American finisher, taking 26thwith a time of 1:51.68.
Paerson, who won the giant slalom here Thursday for her first World Cup winon home snow, was second. More important, she moved into the same spot in theoverall standings.
Kostelic, who clinched the overall title Thursday, has also secured the WorldCup slalom title this season.
CopyrightŠ 2003 The Seattle Times Company
