Anja Paerson of Sweden won her second World Cup race in two days Sunday, surviving a ragged second run to win a slalom with World Cup leader Janica Kostelica of Croatia – responding to the wild enthusiasm of thousands of red-and-white-draped fans – in second place. Kristina Koznick was the only American to make the second run and finished seventh.

Paerson, who won Saturday's giant slalom in Maribor, and Kostelic have won all seven slaloms this season; Kostelic, who had four victories, saw a three-SL streak snipped as Paerson took her third victory. The winning time was 1:39.98 with Kostelic second in 1:39.16 and Austrian Nicole Hosp third.

Koznick's showing was her best slalom result of the winter. She finished in 1:39.79, moving up one spot in the final run.

"Actually, although there's no result to show it, the girls skied pretty well. Sarah [Schleper – Vail, CO] was seventh at the intermediate before she went out and Jules [Julia Mancuso – Olympic Valley, CA] was 19th…but they didn't make it down," said U.S. women's Head Coach Marjan Cernigoj. Resi Stiegler didn't qualify for the second run.

"Even though they were charging, their energy has been low. Several of the girls have been sick, so it's good to have some time off for a few days before the World Championships," Cernigoj said. The Worlds team is expected to be announced by Monday.

After a sloppy first run of giant slalom Saturday, organizers put chemicals on the snow and came up with a hardening conditions for the second GS run and very solid snow for the slalom, he said. "They did an outstanding job of preparation. The snow was excellent."

The first women's race at the Worlds in St. Moritz, Switzerland, is the super G on the second day of the championships, Feb. 2.

— Courtesy US Ski Team