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Men's World Cup
Bode Miller tied with American teammate Daron Rahlves to win the
final super-G of the season Friday, virtually wrapping up the overall
World Cup title.
Miller increased his overall World Cup lead to 184 points on Benjamin
Raich of Austria, who finished 11th Friday. It was Miller's first
World Cup victory since a slalom on Dec 13 in Italy. The win also
earned Miller the World Cup super-G title this season in an upset
of Hermann Maier of Austria.
Watching victory slip away
Maier started the day with a 54-point lead on Miller in the super-G
standings. Miller and Maier were the final two skiers down the course.
After Miller finished even with Rahlves in 1 minute, 10.24 seconds,
Maier needed a podium place to secure the title, but he finished
ninth.
"I really had my heart set on that," said Miller, who became the
first American to win the super-G title since the discipline was
introduced in 1986. "I did my part, and then all I could do was
watch him. He made a mistake in the middle and that was it."
In the overall standings, Miller leads Raich 1,528 points to 1,344.
The only way Miller can lose the overall title is if Raich wins
the remaining two races - the giant slalom today and the slalom
Sunday - and Miller finishes outside the top 15 both days. "There
are still 200 points up for grabs," Miller said. "It's never over
until it's mathematically over. Benni can win both events, so I
need to ski well."
Women's World Cup
Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria won the final super-G of the season,
capturing the World Cup title in the discipline. With a third-place
finish, Anja Paerson of Sweden extended her lead on Janica Kostelic
of Croatia in the overall standings.
Dorfmeister, the 2001-02 overall winner, added to her giant slalom
trophy from 1999-2000 and the downhill crown in 2003. She was the
final skier on the course and needed only a ninth-place result once
countrywoman Renate Goetschl, who skied immediately before her,
finished outside the top three.
[Source: rockymountainnews.com]
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