Wednesday — February 25, 2004

Women narrow
down their chase

To Paerson, Goetschl

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While the World Cup world waits for the next Bode Miller-Hermann Maier showdown Saturday, Feb. 28 in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, the World Cup women displayed their own 1-2 punch last weekend at Are, Sweden.

World Cup leaders Anja Paerson of Sweden (winning in giant slalom) and Renate Goetschl of Austria (super giant slalom) picked up wins at Are and maintained their nip-and-tuck race for the women’s overall lead.

Paerson’s 21st career victory and 10th of the season came from a final-run tear out of the pack, lifting her from 10th place to the GS victory. Goetschl’s 32nd career win and fifth of the season came on a windy day, and on a choppy racing surface.

In the women’s World Cup overall standings, Paerson has 1331 points and Goetschl 1208, with five technical races remaining and only two speed events including the World Cup Finals March 10-14 at Sestriere, Italy.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ski Team racer Bode Miller is in third place in the overall standings 70 points behind leader Hermann Maier of Austria. They clash next in the Slovenia giant slalom Saturday, to be televised on Outdoor Life Network at 5 p.m.

The women head to Finland for the first World Cup races to be held in that country, slaloms Feb. 28-29.

Here is last week’s wrap-up:

Women’s GS Feb. 22 at Are, Sweden.: 1—Anja Paerson (Swe.) 2:15.64. 10—Kristina Koznick 2:17.41. 18—Lindsey Kildow 2:17.62. DNF—Libby Ludlow. DNQ—Julia Mancuso, Jonna Mendes, Jessica Kelley, Sarah Schleper, Caroline Lalive.

Women’s SG Feb. 21 at Are: 1—Renate Goetschl (Aust.) 1:09.22. 9—Caroline Lalive 1:09.76. 11—Libby Ludlow 1:09.77. 12—Lindsey Kildow 1:09.87. 17—Julia Mancuso 1:10.21. 41—Jonna Mendes 1:12.56.

Current women’s World Cup standings: 1—Anja Paerson (Swe). 1331 (1-SL, 1-GS). 2—Renate Goetschl (Aust.) 1208 (1-DH, 1-SG). 11—Kirsten Clark 456. 19—Sarah Schleper 300.

Current men’s World Cup overall standings: 1—Hermann Maier (Aust.) 1054 (2-DH, 1-SG). 2—Benjamin Raich (Aust.) 985 (3-SL, 4-GS). 3—Bode Miller 984 (2-GS, 5-SL, 1-C). 4—Stephan Eberharter (Aust.) 961 (1-DH). 7—Daron Rahlves 720 (3-DH, 3-SG).

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