CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Sweden's Anja Paerson claimed her first-ever victory in a World Cup giant slalom Sunday.
Paerson finished with a combined time of 2 minutes, 32.48 seconds, edging reigning Olympic giant slalom champion Janica Kostelic of Croatia.
Italy's Karen Putzer was third, 1.43 behind Paerson. That result helped Putzer replace Swiss world champion Sonja Nef at the top of the giant slalom standings.
Nef crashed out on the upper part of the course while leading in the first run.
Paerson, who won two slaloms earlier this season, often has finished in the top three of this discipline but had never managed to win before Sunday.
"This is a great day which I have been dreaming of for a long time," Paerson said. "I knew I had a strong lead over Janica, who was leading when I started, but I couldn't be too conservative because she is such a strong contender. Now I will be ready for a great World Championships in two weeks time in Switzerland."
Kostelic showed in her second run that she is still likely to be the one to beat in St. Moritz. The Croatian, who won four medals - three gold - at last year's Olympics, raced down the course in 1:13.63 in her second run, by far the best time of any of the competitors over either leg.
"I was upset by my first run this morning and I wanted to prove to myself that I could ski better than this," she said. "I will compete in all events in St. Moritz and I hope to be more lucky there than in St. Anton last time where I did not win a single medal."
