Slovenia's Tina Maze speeds past a pole on her way to clock the fastest time during the first run of an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom in Semmering, Austria, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
December 29, 2012 - 7:55 AM
SEMMERING, Austria - Overall World Cup leader Tina Maze of Slovenia built a commanding lead in the first leg of a women's night slalom on Saturday, looking to end 2012 with another win.
Maze came down the Panorama course in 47.22 seconds to lead second-place Veronika Velez Zuzulova of Slovakia by 0.55.
Kathrin Zettel of Austria was 0.86 behind Maze in third, and Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States, who tops the discipline standings following her maiden victory last week, was another 0.01 back in fourth.
If Shiffrin wins the race, the 17-year-old American becomes the youngest skier in 34 years to win two consecutive World Cup slaloms.
The rest of the field finished more than a second off Maze's leading time.
Defending overall champion Lindsey Vonn of the United States missed the race as she is recovering from an intestinal illness, and world slalom champion Marlies Schild of Austria is out for three months following knee surgery.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012