Alpine Word Cup Finals: Kostelic clinches overall as Hosp wins super G

By Published On: March 16th, 2006Comments Off on Alpine Word Cup Finals: Kostelic clinches overall as Hosp wins super G

Alpine Word Cup Finals: Kostelic clinches overall as Hosp wins super GARE, Sweden – Janica Kostelic of Croatia clinched the women’s World Cup overall title with a fourth-place finish in the final super G of the season Thursday. Nicole Hosp of Austria was the race winner, and the top Americans were fifth and sixth.

Kostelic won the overall title in 2001 and 2003, sat out 2004 with a thyroid condition and returned last season to earn 1,356 World Cup points, losing the overall title in the last race to her friend Anja Paerson of Sweden by just three points.

This time around, Kostelic capitalized when Paerson blew past a gate a mistake the Swede has made in several super G races this season. Paerson, the only skier in mathematical contention for the overall, was visibly angry at her misfortune; she seldom misses the podium at this resort.

The Swede skied out after the third gate on the new 1,903-meter WM Strecke course that will be used for next year’s World Championships (Feb. 3-18, 2007).

By placing fourth, Kostelic moved to 1,770 points, 204 ahead of Paerson, in the overall standings. Only two races remain at the World Cup Finals – a slalom and a giant slalom. A win is worth 100 points.

‘I’m happy with it, I’m psyched to be consistent’ said Julia Mancuso, the top American finisher in fifth. ‘There were sections that tightened up and sections that were open, but I was always waiting for the sections that tightened up, so I don’t think I was ‘sending it’ enough.’

Lindsey Kildow skied on a pair of Rossignols named the ‘W.M.D.’ but couldn’t match her podium performance in the previous day’s downhill.

‘It just wasn’t there today’ said Kildow, who was sixth. ‘Sixth is good, so I shouldn’t be too disappointed, but I was hoping to finish off my season with another podium.’

The women race slalom on Friday while the men race GS. On Saturday, they switch events, and then the season is over except for a team race. Sunday’s team event will not count for any points. Starters for each nation will be decided Thursday night.

Hosp clocked 1 minute, 19.45 seconds in Thursday’s race. Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who has already clinched the super G title, was second, 0.27 seconds back.

Germany’s Martina Ertl-Renz was third, 0.43 behind the winner.

Following the race, a party was held for Dorfmeister. Her fan club climbed on the awards stage and serenaded her, waving sparklers and wearing traditional Austrian attire.

‘She’s accomplished so much in her career, she deserves a nice farewell’ said Kildow. ‘I’m psyched for her. She’s finishing up on top, and I’d be happy to finish my career where she is right now.’

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Women’s super G
Are, Sweden
March 16, 2006

1. Nicole Hosp, AUT 1:19.45
2. Michaela Dorfmeister, AUT 1:19.72
3. Martina Ertl-Renz, GER 1:19.88
4. Janica Kostelic, CRO 1:20.32
5. Julia Mancuso, USA 1:20.34
6. Lindsey Kildow, USA 1:20.37
7. Andrea Fischbacher, AUT 1:20.50
8. Alexandra Meissnitzer, AUT 1:20.63
9. Marlies Schild, AUT 1:20.68
10. Kathrin Zettel, AUT 1:20.70
11. Elisabeth Goergl, AUT 1:20.75
12. Libby Ludlow, USA 1:20.77
13. Silvia Berger, AUT 1:21.13
14. Lucia Recchia, ITA 1:21.24
15. Kirsten Clark, USA 1:21.27
16. Nadia Styger, SUI 1:21.30
17. Emily Brydon, CAN 1:21.31
18. Kelly VanderBeek, CAN 1:21.41
19. Tina Maze, SLO 1:21.44
20. Carole Montillet-Carles, FRA 1:21.51
21. Genevieve Simard, CAN 1:21.99
22. Ingrid Jacquemod, FRA 1:22.42
no additional North Americans.

THE SCOOP

By Hank McKee

Equipment
Women’s SG, Are, March 16, 2006

Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Hosp, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
2. Dorfmeister, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3. Ertl-Renz, Rossignol/Nordica/Rossignol
4. Kostelic, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5. Mancuso, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
6. Kildow, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
7. Fischbacher, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
8. Meissnitzer, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
9. Schild, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10. Zettel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

Women’s super G, Are, March 16. … It is the 34 event of the women’s 34 race, two combined World Cup schedule. … It is the eighth and final SG.

It is the fifth career win for Nicole Hosp. … Her first in SG. … It is the third discipline she has claimed a World Cup win in. … It is her second win of the season, the previous coming in GS at Cortina d’Ampezzo Jan. 29.

It is the 64th career World Cup podium for Michaela Dorfmeister. … Her 12th of the season – not counting two Olympic gold medals … It is her 26th career SG podium. … She missed only one SG podium all season, finishing 10th at Cortina Jan. 27.

It is the 57th career World Cup podium for Martina Ertl-Renz. … Her 17th in SG. … It is her first podium of the season, her best previous result a fourth in SG at Lake Louise Dec. 14.

It is the 13th time Julia Mancuso has finished fifth or better in her World Cup career. … The third time in SG. … It is her sixth top five of the season (not including the Olympic gold medal in GS) and third in SG. … It is the 27th career top six for Lindsey Kildow. … Her 13th of the season. … Sixth consecutive top-six placing, all since the Olympics. … It is the sixth time Libby Ludlow has been 12th or better in a World Cup race… All in SG. … It is the second time at Are, having placed 11th in SG in Are in 2004. … In 10 years of scoring on the World Cup circuit, Kirsten Clark has now placed in the top 15 57 times. … She had never placed 15th previously. … It was the eighth placing of the season (including Olympics) for Emily Brydon, but she receives no points for the result. … It was the 12th top-30 result of the season for Kelley Vanderbeek and the 17th for Genevieve Simard (both including Olympic placings) and neither score for the effort.

With two races remaining Janica Kostelic claims the World Cup overall title. … She leads Anja Paerson (DNF in race) 1,770-1,566 and cannot be overtaken for the crown. … It is her third overall title, having previously won in 2001 and 2003. … Michaela Dorfmeister will finish third overall. … She currently has 1344 points. … Lindsey Kildow is the top American on the overall standings list in fourth at 1,067 poits. … Dorfmeister had previously cinched the DH title. … The final standings have Dorfmeister leading Alexandra Meissnitzer 626-437. … Nadia Styger gets third at 360 and Kildow is fourth at 326. … Winning margin is .27 of a second. … Top six competitors are within the same second. … Top 19 within two seconds.

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