Alpine skiing-Immaculate Shiffrin wins slalom gold for U.S.

ST MORITZ, Switzerland, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Mikaela Shiffrin won a record-equalling third successive world championship women's slalom title with two blistering runs on Saturday to secure a first gold medal for the United States at this year's event. The 21-year from old from Vail, Colorado matched the accomplishment of German Christl Cranz who completed her treble in 1939, finishing a staggering 1.64 seconds ahead of home crowd favourite Wendy Holdener of Switzerland. It was a second podium finish for overall World Cup leader Shiffrin who also took the silver medal in Thursday's giant slalom. Swede Frida Hansdotter climbed from fifth to third with a strong second run. (Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Ed Osmond)