First Olympic Spot to Koznick

GEORGETOWN, Colo. (Nov. 17) -- Kristina Koznick (Burnsville, MN), who hadn't planned to race until she learned $10,000 was on the line to be top American, earned the first 2002 Olympic Team berth for the U.S. Ski Team Saturday, finishing third -- but No. 1 American -- in a Nature Valley Alpine Cup slalom at sun-bathed Loveland Ski Area.

The Olympic berth and cash went to the winner of the U.S. Ski Team Gold Cup, the race-within-the-race. Karin Koellerer of Austria, fourth after the first run, hung-up the second-fastest second run and finished with a two-run time of 1:46.30. Slovakian 17-year-old Veronika Zuzulova was second in 1:46.51 and Koznick held on to third place in the field of 102 with a time of 1:47.16.

Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) was 20th with junior Erika Hogan (Holmes, NY), a Stratton Mountain School racer, 22nd and Reisi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) 28th.

After the first run, Koznick said she had seen a lot of racers intimidated, so when she started No. 17, she ripped from the start. On the second run, skiing 30th in the flip-30 format -- and with more than a three-second lead on Schleper, the second American in the opening run, Koznick held back to ensure she finished the race. As the acknowledged top U.S. slalom skier, she wasn't as concerned about making the Olympic Team as she was about collecting the $10,000 top prize.

Koz: "I'm skiing really well..."

"I knew, standing in the start second run, as icy as it was, that I just needed to finish to win $10,000 and that's something I definitely came for, and I'd be lying if I say I didn't come for the money," said Koznick. "It was really challenging and I don't like skiing to finish. It's just not a pleasure...but at the same time, I know I'm skiing really well. I proved it my first run, and the goal is to win in Copper [Mountain, Colo.]" when the World Cup resumes Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, Sarah and Caroline [Lalive - Steamboat Springs, CO] both had rough days and it was really between the three of us for the Olympic spot and the $10,000. Unfortunately, first run Sarah had trouble and then Caroline -- luckily she's okay -- went down. So, I knew all this and I wanted somebody nipping at my heels. If there was someone nipping at my heels, you would've seen Koz, you would've seen me racing. And, unfortunately, there wasn't and all I had to do was standup...

"If it was just like I was top American but I didn't put anything together, then I'd really be disappointed. but, the fact of the matter is I'm skiing great. I raced first run and that's what I have inside me...and I'm happy."

Check out Kristina's diary at www.koznick.com