Paerson wins super G; Mancuso 7th

LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland — Anja Paerson of Sweden won the final super G of the season Thursday and Marlies Schild finished third to consolidate her lead atop the overall standings.

American Julia Mancuso, the only non-Austrian still in the chase for the overall, saw one of her best chances to catch up slip away, finishing seventh in 1:22.00. She is third in the overall standings.

Schild leads the overall standings with 1,442 points, followed by teammate Nicole Hosp at 1,372 and Mancuso at 1,332 with two races remaining.

"I don't really think there's a chance to win anymore, but I can definitely hang in there," Mancuso said. "Going into this week I was happy just to be in contention. Unfortunately, the downhill didn't go my way and the super G as well."

Mancuso, the Olympic giant slalom champion, could do well in that race Sunday. However, she is weaker in the slalom.

Schild was not ready to count out the American just yet.

"I wouldn't say she is out of it," Schild said. "She is still capable of skiing the slalom well."

Paerson, who won three gold medals at the world championships last month but had been winless all season in World Cup competition, raced down the sun-soaked Silvano-Beltrametti course in 1 minute, 20.16 seconds.

Andrea Fischbacher of Austria was second in 1:20.83.

Schild was third in 1:21.09, matching her career best super G result, which she recorded in Lenzerheide two seasons ago. Schild pulled away from her overall challengers Wednesday when she finished second in the final downhill.

"I wanted to do well the last two days, but I hadn't counted on this," said Schild, who is stronger in the technical disciplines, having won seven of the eight slaloms this season.

Hosp remained second behind Schild in the overall standings by placing fifth in 1:21.38.

"It's a good hill for (Schild) because it's technical," Mancuso said of the tight gate setting on the super G course. "She's a good technical skier. Ski racing is a lot about confidence. If you're feeling confident on a hill, that definitely helps."

Renate Goetschl all but fell out of the overall hunt, missing a gate on the upper part of the course. While still in mathematical contention for the title, Goetschl is not as strong as her two teammates in the slalom and giant slalom.

Goetschl had already locked up the super G title coming into the finals. She ended the season with 540 points after seven races.

Hosp finished second in the discipline rankings with 352 points. American Lindsey Kildow, who injured her knee last month in slalom training at the worlds, finished third with 310 points, and Mancuso was next at 273.