Austria's Manfred Pranger speeds past a pole on his way to clock the fastest time during the first run of a men's Ski World Cup slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
. world ski news : Mani Pranger SL NO1 in Wengen - 18 January 2009 - 14:56
Austrians roll in slalom
Manfred Pranger and Reinfried Herbst swapped the first and second places they scored last weekend in Adelboden with Pranger finishing first and Herbst second in the Lauberhorn slalom at Wengen, Switzerland Sunday.
Austria's Manfred Pranger speeds past a pole on his way to clock the fastest time during the first run of a men's Ski World Cup slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
It was nearly an Austrian sweep as Croatian Ivica Kostelic was just able to stay ahead of a hard second run charge by Marcel Hirscher to get third.
Croatia's Ivica Kostelic reacts after taking third place in a men's Ski World Cup slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Austria's Manfred Pranger at the start of a men's Ski World Cup slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Austria's Reinfried Herbst speeds past a pole on his way to clock the seconnd fastest time during the first run of a men's Ski World Cup slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
World Cup overall leader Benjamin Raich was fifth, but nearly a full second back of Pranger. Sixth finishing Jean-Baptiste Grange, who looked invincible in slalom earlier this season, was 1.02 back.
Canadians Michael Janyk and Julien Cousineau finished eighth and ninth respectively to uphold North American honor. American Ted Ligerty was 12th, the unretired Thomas Grandi 17th and Jimmy Cochran 18th. Canadian Trevor White got 22nd, but did not score what would have been his first career Cup points.
Bode Miller of U.S. clears a gate during the men's Ski World Cup first run slalom in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Keystone/Alessandro Della Bella)
The win was the first in the Wengen slalom for an Austrian since 2004 when Raich turned the trick. Austrians have only won the race six times since it became a World Cup staple.
By Hank McKee
SkiRacing.com
Sunday, 18 January 2009
From left, Austria's Reinfried Herbst , second placed, the winner Manfred Pranger of Austria, and third placed Croatia's Ivica Kostelic celebrate on podium after a men's Ski World Cup slalom race in Wengen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time FIS Points
1 11 50624 PRANGER Manfred 1978 AUT 48.10 52.26 1:40.36 0.00
2 3 50605 HERBST Reinfried 1978 AUT 48.44 52.26 1:40.70 2.03
3 2 380260 KOSTELIC Ivica 1979 CRO 48.80 51.95 1:40.75 2.33
4 10 53831 HIRSCHER Marcel 1989 AUT 49.25 51.59 1:40.84 2.87
5 1 50625 RAICH Benjamin 1978 AUT 48.60 52.69 1:41.29 5.56
6 7 192665 GRANGE Jean-Baptiste 1984 FRA 48.66 52.72 1:41.38 6.10
7 19 501111 HARGIN Mattias 1985 SWE 49.90 51.49 1:41.39 6.16
8 34 102435 JANYK Michael 1982 CAN 50.10 51.59 1:41.69 7.95
9 45 102239 COUSINEAU Julien 1981 CAN 49.50 52.21 1:41.71 8.07
10 15 290478 ROCCA Giorgio 1975 ITA 50.01 51.74 1:41.75 8.31
Did not finish 1st run: GEORGIEV Georgi (BUL)
Did not qualify 1st run: ALBRECHT Kilian (BUL)