This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Carrabassett Valley, Maine • Park City's Megan McJames won the women's giant slalom on Monday in the U.S. Alpine Championships at stormy Sugarloaf Mountain.

It was her first national title after seven podium finishes.

The two-time Olympian finished with a combined time of 2:05.03, with Dartmouth's Foreste Peterson .33 seconds off the pace. Patricia Mangan, a U.S. ski team member with McJames, claimed the final podium spot for the top junior of the day.

McJames led after the first run by just .03 over Peterson.

"Today I wanted it, and it was tough conditions, but I think if there's anything I've learned in the last four years of being an independent skier it's that perseverance is the name of the game," McJames said. "I've been skiing well and I'm proud of it, and so I'm happy that it paid off today."

Gusting winds and low visibility were factors in only 36 of 66 skiers finishing their opening run. The starting gate for the second run was moved down several gates on the Narrow Gauge course.

"I surprised myself with my results this year — just given I am a full-time student and I'm not training full time," Peterson said. "It definitely feels pretty sweet. It was some of the craziest conditions I think I've ever raced in, but I was so confident in the snow because it was so good first run so I just knew that I could stand on it and push it."

Super-G champion Laurenne Ross did not finish and slalom winner Resi Stiegler took a fall.