Janica Kostelic captures first World Cup super-G

She became the first woman to claim wins in six different disciplines on the skiing circuit.
BAD KLEINKIRCHHEIM, Austria (AP) -- Janica Kostelic ran across the snow Sunday, shaking her skis above her head in joy at her latest feat.
The three-time Olympian captured her first World Cup super-G on Sunday, becoming the first woman to claim wins in six different disciplines on the skiing circuit.
"It's funny. I feel like laughing, like crying -- it was my goal," Kostelic said. "It's the dream of all skiers to win every discipline."
Kostelic finished in 1 minute, 9.41 seconds on a demanding slope, .10 ahead of Austrians Michaela Dorfmeister and Alexandra Meissnitzer, the season's top two super-G racers who shared second. Kirsten Clark of the United States was fourth in 1:09.63.
Best in awhile
Clark's finish was her best in more than two years. Americans Libby Ludlow was seventh and Julia Mancuso was 13th.
American Lindsey Kildow finished 43rd after almost losing her balance at the top of the course. After winning two straight downhills, the 21-year-old lost her lead in the event standings to Dorfmeister after a ninth and 18th this week.
Kostelic's triumph capped a remarkable three weeks.
The 24-year-old Croatian claimed her first World Cup downhill Saturday and her first giant slalom on the tour three weeks ago. Among her 24 World Cup wins, Kostelic has captured all five main disciplines, the giant slalom, downhill, slalom, super-G and combined. She also has a victory in the new super-combi race.
Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden and Petra Kronberger of Austria have won in the five main disciplines.
Kostelic, who had never done better than second in the super-G, is the runaway leader in the overall standings. She has 982 points to Dorfmeister's 730, with Anja Paerson of Sweden third at 685.
Kostelic won three gold medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and last year's world championships.
Don't ask Kostelic about her chances at the Turin Olympics next month. She keeps downplaying expectations despite a phenomenal World Cup season.
"It's hard to say. I'm in good form now, but I want to concentrate on the World Cup," Kostelic said. "We'll see at the Olympics."
Redirects credit
She credited others for her ability to shine at the right moment.
"For that part, my dad and my coaches have to get me in the right shape at the right time," said Kostelic, whose previous best in the super G was second at the 2002 Olympics and at Aspen.
But on a demanding course full of curves, one rival after another made mistakes. Kostelic gained speed at the bottom of the slope, in similar fashion to her downhill win on Saturday.
Paerson was .39 ahead of Kostelic midway through her run, but she skied straight through a curve and off the course for the second straight day.
Dorfmeister, who tops the super-G standings with 320 points, competed in her last race in her homeland. The 32-year-old plans to retire after the Olympics.
"I didn't even think about that," Dorfmeister said. "It's just important for me to gain confidence before the Olympics."
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.