Zagreb, Croatia – American skier Mikaela Shiffrin built a commanding lead in the opening run of a World Cup slalom on Sunday.
The Olympic champion timed 56.88 seconds on the Crveni Spust course to lead second-place Kathrin Zettel of Austria by 0.80. Sarka Strachova of the Czech Republic was 1.03 behind in third.
Frida Hansdotter of Sweden, who tops the slalom standings, trailed Shiffrin by 2.15 in eighth while overall leader Tina Maze of Slovenia came fifth and had 1.75 to make up in the second run.
The 19-year-old Shiffrin, who won the event two years ago, is aiming for her 11th career slalom victory to match a World Cup record set in 1980 by France’s Perrine Pelen for most slalom wins as a teenager. – Sapa-AP