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Gerg Wins Women's World Cup Super-G VOA Sports 25 Jan 2002 21:14 UTC 
German skier Hilde Gerg has won a women's World Cup super giant slalom race in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, by the closest of margins. The reigning Olympic slalom champion was just .01 faster than Austrian Renate Goetschl. Alexandra Meissnitzer was third Friday, giving the Austrian her first podium finish since 1999 when she was the overall World Cup champion.
This was the 26-year-old Gerg's fourth win of the season and second in the super-G. She said this is good for her confidence heading into next month's Salt Lake City Winter games.
Gerg has made a brilliant comeback after her career was threatened by a broken leg nearly two years ago. Her win puts her into a tie for second place in the overall World Cup standings with Switzerland's Sonja Nef. They have 675 points, 65 behind leader Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria.
Croatia's Janica Kostelic, the reigning overall World Cup champion, continued her comeback from a knee injury with an encouraging fourth place finiksh. The highest American finisher was Kirsten Clark in 16th place.
Sweden's former Olympic combined champion Pernilla Wiberg suffered a heavy crash into the netting at the side of the course. She did not appear seriously hurt. Italian skier Isolde Kostner also crashed out of the race.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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