Kraus wins third straight FIS ski cross{mosimage}

KREISCHBERG, Austria (AP) Tomas Kraus of the Czech Republic won his third consecutive ski cross race Friday, strengthening his lead in the freestyle World Cup standings.

Austria's Karin Huttary captured the women's event for her first victory this season and closed in on the overall lead.

Kraus finished ahead of Austria's Isidor Gruener and Switzerland's Andreas Steffen. Kraus, winner of three of four events this season, has 326 points, followed by Gruener at 285 and Stanley Hayer of the Czech Republic at 234.

Among the women, Huttary outpaced Switzerland's Franziska Steffen and Germany's Alexandra Grauvogl. France's Ophelie David of France tops the standings with 320 points. Huttary is second with 247 and Sweden's Magdalena Iljans is third with 195.

The next World Cup ski cross is Feb. 10 at Naeba, Japan.

-The Associated Press