Al-Ahram Weekly | Sports

		2 - 8 January 2003 Issue No. 619 Sports	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875

In the clear

CROATIA's Janica Kostelic confirmed her dominance with her fourth World Cup slalom victory of the season and 17th overall in Semmering, Austria. The 20-year-old clocked one minute 38.67 seconds over the two runs to beat second-placed Christel Pascal of France by an enormous 1.11 seconds.
Leading after the first run by 0.46 seconds over Pascal, Kostelic was also quickest on the second leg.
"I wasn't so pleased with my first run so I really attacked in the second although my father told me there was no need," said Kostelic on Sunday. "I just wanted to push myself further."
In the overall standings after 16 events Kostelic now has 955 points -- a massive 436 clear of Italy's Karen Putzer.
The 2001 World Cup and slalom champion, whose winning streak was interrupted last year by a serious knee injury, is also an overwhelming favourite for the slalom title where she leads Pascal by 185 points.
Italy's Nicole took third in 1:40.45 for her first podium finish.
Defending World Cup slalom champion Laure Pequegnot was fourth on 1:40.58.
In other news, Daron Rahlves ended five years of Austrian domination when he won the Bormio World Cup downhill race in Italy on Sunday.
The American became the first non- Austrian to win the race since Frenchman Luc Alphand claimed victory in 1996.
Rahlves recorded a time of two minutes 1.42 seconds as he edged out Olympic champion Fritz Strobl of Austria by 0.18 seconds. Another Austrian, world champion Hannes Trinkl, was third.
Austria, which finished one-two-three in both downhills at Bormio last season, had seven men in the top 10, according to provisional results. However, World Cup champion Stephan Eberharter, who was making his comeback after a two-week injury lay- off, skied out in sight of the finish line after an error-strewn run.
The race, which was the fifth downhill of the season, was confirmed only a few hours before the scheduled start. There had been concern after the bottom section of the course, softened by rain on Saturday, was made compact by freezing temperatures overnight.