MARIBOR, Slovenia (AP) _ Sweden's Anja Paerson overcame top rival Janica Kostelic _ and snowballs thrown by rowdy Croatian fans _ to win a slalom race Sunday, her third straight title in the women's World Cup. Paerson, the defending world champion and winner of a second consecutive giant slalom here Saturday, maintained her first run lead to win with a combined time of 1 minute, 38.98 seconds.

Anja Paerson

Paerson pumped her fists in the air after crossing the finish line and seeing her time on the big-screen monitor.
She threw herself onto the snow with her trademark bellyflop.
"It was quite hard for me because the Croat fans were throwing snowballs and I was afraid I would get some in my face," Paerson said after the race.
Croatian ski sensation Janica Kostelic and , who was treated for dehydration earlier in the day, came in second place, lagging by 0.67 seconds. The Olympic slalom champion and runaway leader in the slalom standings was briefly hospitalized to be rehydrated.

Nicole Hosp

Austria's young rising star, Nicole Hosp, who was runner-up in Saturday's giant slalom, replayed her fine performance by catapulting from 17th position at the start
to cross over second again, 0.34 seconds behind.
Several thousand boisterous Croat supporters crossed into neighboring Slovenia to support Kostelic, keeping police and organizers on their toes. However, a handful of unruly fans tried to spoil the racing by throwing snowballs on the piste.

Kostelic and Paerson

Paerson and Kostelic are locked in a fight for prestige in the gate events this season, with four titles apiece. The rivalry is likely to peak at the World Championships in St.
Moritz next weekend.
The time set by Kostelic was a remarkable feat considering the Croatian ski sensation received infusions before and during the interval of the race to combat bouts of
dehydration.
"Janica was feeling weak in the morning as the result of a cold," her spokesman Ozren Mueller said.
Mueller said that Kostelic was quickly released from the hospital and was fit enough to race.

Kostelic, Paerson and Hosp

Kostelic, who became the first skier to win four medals at the same Olympic Games, finished Saturday's giant slalom in a disappointing 17th position.
Still, the 21-year old Croat holds a considerable lead in the women's World Cup with 1,342 points _ a staggering 472 points over her nearest rival, Karen Putzer of Italy.
Two-time giant slalom champion, Sonja Nef of Switzerland, mimicked her Saturday giant slalom performance, when she foiled a handsome lead near the midway mark by straddling a gate and crashing out.
Kristina Koznick, of the United States, was the only North American through to the second run. The 27-year-old slalom specialist moved into 7th place after starting with bib No. 15. Sarah Schleper, the best U.S. performer in the slalom this season, lost her gripping on a turn and slid off course.
Sunday's slalom is the last race on the women's tour before the world championships to be held in St. Mortitz, Switzerland, Feb. 2-16. 

AP, 26.01.2003