Kostelic wins slalom

Rising teenage star Janica Kostelic of Croatia, overcoming pains from a bruised leg, on Sunday to win the women's World Cup slalom in Sestriere, Italy, beating second-place Anja Paerson of Sweden by more than one second.

Rising teenage star Janica Kostelic of Croatia, overcoming pains from a bruised leg, on Sunday to win the women's World Cup slalom in Sestriere, Italy, beating second-place Anja Paerson of Sweden by more than one second.

The second season victory vaulted the 17-year-old Croat skier atop the World Cup overall standings, while strengthening her lead in the speciality standings.

Kostelic, a questionable starter at Sestiere after she bruised her right thigh following a spill in training Saturday, clocked the fastest time in both runs for a winning aggregate of one minute, 39.36 seconds in the third slalom race of the season.

Paerson, 18, finished second in 1:40.48.

France's Christel Saioni took third place, 2.08 seconds slower than the winner.

Norway's Trine Bakke finished fourth, ahead of the day surprise, France's Helene Richard.

Richard, only 20th after the first run, climbed to fifth setting the second fastest time in the second run.

Renate Goetschl of Austria, second to Kostelic in the first run, straddled a gate in the second and did not finish.

Kostelic, who had dominated the previous slalom race at Serre Chevalier, France, won at the Giovanni Alberto Agnelli course in this north Italian resort which will host Alpine ski events during the 2006 Winter Olympics.

World Cup slalom results (runs times in parentheses):

1. Janica Kostelic, Croatia, 1:39.36 (47.08-52.28).2. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 1:40.48 (47.76-52.72).3. Christel Saioni, France, 1:41.44 (47.86-53.58).4. Trine Bakke, Norway, 1:42.00 (47.86-54.14).5. Helene Richard, France, 1:42.08 (49.39-52.69).6. Sabine Egger, Austria, 1:42.17 (48.45-53.72).7. Claudia Riegler, New Zealand, 1:42.37 (49.62-52.75).8. Kristina Koznick, United States, 1:42.50 (48.29-54.21).9. Vanessa Vidal, France, 1:42.65 (49.25-53.40).10. Spela Pretnar, Slovenia, 1:42.90 (48.62-54.28).11. Denise Karbon, Italy, 1:43.14 (49.02-54.12).12. Natasa Bokal, Slovenia, 1:43.16 (48.84-54.32).13. Alenka Dovzan, Slovenia, 1:43.17 (49.74-53.43).14. Elisabetta Biavaschi, Italy, 1:43.22 (49.30-53.92).15. Anna Ottosson, Sweden, 1:43.32 (49.48-53.84).16. Laure Pequegnot, France, 1:43.33 (49.56-53.77).17. Barbara Milani, Italy, 1:43.43 (49.31-54.12).18. Karin Koellerer, Austria, 1:43.52 (49.30-54.22).19. Leila Piccard, France, 1:43.73 (49.17-54.56).20. Sarah Schleper, United States, 1:43.77 (49.39-54.38).21. Urska Hrovat, Slovenia, 1:43.82 (49.10-54.72).22. Monika Bergmann, Germany, 1:44.46 (49.69-54.77).23. (tie) Andrine Flemmen, Norway, 1:44.48 (49.41-55.07).-- Janette Hargin, Sweden, 1:44.48 (49.67-54.81).25. Zali Steggall, Australia, 1:44.60 (49.16-55.44).26. Nicole Gius, Italy, 1:44.91 (49.69-55.22).27. Lara Magoni, Italy, 1:45.13 (49.40-56.73).

Did Not Qualify for 2nd runNoriyo Hiroi, Japan; Allison Forsyth and Emily Brydon, Canada; Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden; Anita Wachter, Austria; Hilde Gerg, Germany.

Did Not Finish in 1st runLinda Ydeskog, Sweden; Henna Raita, Finland; Annemarie Gerg and Maren Guenter, Grmany.

DNF in 2nd runSonja Nef, Switzerland; Renate Goetschl, Austria; Stephanie Clement-Guy, France.

Women's Alpine World Cup Standings (After ten events)

1. Janica Kostelic, Croatia, 420 points.2. Michaele Dorfmeister, Austria, 342.3. Isolde Kostner, Italy, 319.4. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 287.5. Regine Cavagnoud, France, 280.6. Hilde Gerg, Germany, 256.7. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 246.8. Sonja Nef, Switzerland, 222.9. Mojca Suhadolc, Slovenia, 221.10. Anita Wachter, Austria, 203.11. Christel Saioni, France, 196.12. Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden, 192.13. Silvia Berger, Austria, 191.14. Trine Bakke, Norway, 190.15. Anna Ottosson, Sweden, 164.

Slalom (After three races)

1. Janica Kostelic, Croatia, 250 points.2. Christel Saioni, France, 196.3. Trine Bakke, Norway, 190.4. Anja Paerson, Sweden, 154.5. Spela Pretnar, Slovenia, 126.6. Sabine Egger, Austria, 122.7. Helene Richrd, France, 94.8. Renate Goetschl, Austria, 85.9. Vanessa Vidal, France, 73.10. Laure Pequegnot, France, 70.11. Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden, 69.12. Claudia Riegler, New Zealand, 62.13. Karin Koellerer, Austria, 53.14. Alenka Dovzan, Slovenia, 52.15. Kristina Koznick, United States, 50.