Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 sports
Monday 30 deceMber 2019
Shiffrin wins WCup slalom to match Vonn's discipline mark

By ERIC WILLEMSEN is good but I always want
Associated Press to do better but today she
LIENZ, Austria (AP) — Mi- was the best."
kaela Shiffrin keeps closing Sunday's victory left Shiffrin
in on the many Alpine ski- three short of the overall
ing records held by retired record for most wins in a
standout Lindsey Vonn. discipline held by Swedish
Shiffrin earned her 43rd ca- great Ingemar Stenmark,
reer World Cup slalom win who won 46 giant slaloms
Sunday with another domi- between 1975-89.
nant performance, posting However, the American
the fastest times in both three-time overall cham-
runs to beat her Slovakian pion did set another record
rival Petra Vlhova by 0.61 as she became the first
seconds. skier, male or female, with
It matches the 43 downhill a podium finish in 14 con-
wins Vonn collected be- secutive slalom races.
fore retiring last season, Shiffrin's double triumph in
the World Cup record for a Lienz came 50 years after
woman in a single discipline countrywoman Judy Nagel
— although Shiffrin is still 18 also won a GS and a slalom
victories short of Vonn's on back-to-back days here
overall women's mark of 82. in December 1969.
And it provided a winning United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup The 200 points helped Shif-
end to an eventful year for slalom in Lienz, Austria, Sunday Dec. 29, 2019. Associated Press frin extend her lead in the
Shiffrin, both on and off the overall standings to 295
course. like I grew up a lot this last too!" Vonn wrote on Twitter. ski that fast. All I can do is points over Italy's Federica
While she set a new best year. I feel like I was 17 last Watched by her parents, try," Shiffrin said. "I know Brignone. If she receives her
mark with 17 World Cup year and all of a sudden I Jeff and Eileen Shiffrin, that if I am skiing my very fourth crystal globe at the
wins in the 2018-19 season am 24." among the 5,400 specta- best slalom, then it should end of the season in March,
and won two world titles, Shiffrin also won Saturday's tors, Shiffrin built a lead of be fast. So it was more of Shiffrin would match Vonn's
she moved into a new giant slalom, a win that put 0.26 seconds over Vlhova a question today if I would career tally of four overall
house and saw a two-year her in sole second place in the opening run. have the courage to be World Cup titles.
relationship with French ski- behind Vonn on the list of While Vlhova attacked in aggressive." The Shiffrin vs. Vlhova rivalry
er Matthieu Faivre come to all-time World Cup wins. the second run on a course Her near-flawless run de- will continue next Saturday
an end. And even before Sunday's set by her coach Livio Ma- nied Vlhova a first slalom in Zagreb and on Jan. 14 in
"I feel like I learned a lot, I win, Vonn seemed sure that goni, Shiffrin even man- win in 11 months. Flachau, where Vlhova last
feel like it's been emotional. Shiffrin will pass her mark of aged to double her advan- "It's really difficult. She is all beat Shiffrin a year ago.
I have gone through a lot 82 before long. tage over the Slovakian. the time perfect, like today, "I am very happy with how
of changes and transitions "Can't wait to see you "I saw Petra race and she did both runs perfect," I skied, that's important," Vl-
in my life," Shiffrin said. "I feel break the all time record thought I don't know if I can Vlhova said. "Second place hova said.q
Fiesta referee explains crucial calls that flipped semifinal

By RALPH D. RUSSO a third-and-5. Wade hit the Clemson to make it 16-7
AP College Football Writer bracing quarterback hard with 2:45 left in the second
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The enough to keep him down quarter.
Fiesta Bowl referee defend- on the turf for a few min- In the third quarter, with
ed two key calls that went utes. No flag was thrown on Clemson up 21-16, the
Clemson's way after video the field, but replay review Buckeyes appeared to
review in the Tigers' 29-23 spotted helmet-to-helmet score a touchdown after
victory over No. 2 Ohio contact. Clemson receiver Justyn
State on Saturday night. Not only was Wade eject- Ross was stripped of the
A crew of officials from the ed, but what would have ball by Ohio State All-Amer-
Southeastern Conference been a fourth down be- ican Jeff Okudah and the
worked the game between came a first down for Clem- fumble was returned to the
Atlantic Coast Conference son at the Ohio State 30. end zone by Jordan Fuller.
champion Clemson and "This was a crown-of-the- Video review overturned
Big Ten champion Ohio helmet targeting foul," the call on the field and
State. Referee Ken William- Williamson said. "So it did ruled Ross never complet-
son spoke to a pool report- eliminate a lot of other fac- ed the catch.
er after the game to ex- tors. Initial contact was with Williamson said the play
plain two crucial decisions the crown of the helmet. was reviewed in the stadi-
made by replay review. Then he wrapped up for um as well as at the video
Replay officials initiated a the tackle. So at that point, review center the SEC uses
video review that led to targeting was properly in Birmingham, and said
a targeting call on Ohio Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade, right, tackles Clemson called." they determined when Ross
quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the first half of the Fiesta
State defensive back Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, A few plays later, Travis Eti- moved, the ball was be-
Shaun Wade in the sec- 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. Wade was ejected from the game for enne fought off a tackler coming loose in his hands
ond quarter after he had targeting. with a stiff arm and scored and he did not complete
sacked Trevor Lawrence on Associated Press from eight yards out for the process of the catch.q