Schleper Scores in Semmering

Schleper Scores in Semmering{mosimage}Sarah Schleper finished fourth in a giant slalom in Semmering, Austria, on December 28, as the women’s World Cup resumed racing after a brief Christmas break. Austrian Marlies Schild overtook first-run leader Tanja Poutiainen of Finland for the second win of her World Cup career. The two leaders bested the field by a large margin, with third-place Elisabeth Goergl more than a second and a half behind fellow-Austrian Schild.

Schleper had to overcome tough conditions, including heavy fog, to notch her points. “You could barely see the gate above and the gate below where you stood on the course…and it was definitely clearer for some people’ said Coach Trevor Wagner.

The fourth-place finish is one of Schleper’s best World Cup results. She has two second-place finishes (slaloms at Sestriere, Italy, on December 10, 2000, and March 15, 2004) and was third at Semmering in a giant slalom on December 30, 2000.

The women run slalom Wednesday and then have a break until the GS and slalom races (January 8-9) in Berchtesgaden, Germany.

– Editors/USSA reports

Women’s Giant Slalom
Semmering, Austria
Dec. 28, 2004
1. Marlies Schild, AUT 2:15.97
2. Tanja Poutiainen, FIN 2:16.08
3. Elisabeth Goergl, AUT 2:17.53
4. Sarah Schleper, USA 2:17.68
5. Janica Kostelic, CRO 2:18.05
6. Maria Jose Rienda Contreras, SPA 2:18.06
7. Michaela Kirchgasser, AUT 2:18.40
8. Manuela Moelgg, ITA 2:18.49
9. Sonja Nef, SUI 2:18.50
10. Martina Ertl, GER 2:18.55
11. Michaela Dorfmeister, AUT 2:18.71
12. Anna Ottosson, SWE 2:18.80
13. Eveline Rohregger, AUT 2:18.89
14. Nicole Gius, ITA 2:19.23
15. Genevieve Simard, CAN 2:19/26
16. Kathrin Zettel, AUT 2:19.46
17. Alexandra Meissnitzer, AUT 2:19.54
18. Silke Bachmann, ITA 2:19/57
19. Maria Riesch, GER 2:19.65
20. Karina Birkelund, NOR 2:19.74
21. Allison Forsyth, CAN 2:19.78
21. Anja Blieninger, GER 2:19.78
23. Tina Maze, SLO 2:19.94
24. Andrine Flemmen, NOR 2:20.10
25. Brigitte Acton, CAN 2:20.13
26. Marlies Oester, SUI 2:20.33
27. Laurence Lazier, FRA 2:20.72
28. Silvia Berger, AUT 2:20.73
other North Americans:
DNF 1st: Kristina Koznick, Resi Stiegler, USA.
DNQ 2nd: Kirsten Clark, Caroline Lalive, Libby Ludlow, USA;; Gail Kelly, Britt Janyk, CAN.