By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

MARIANSKE LAZNE, Czech Republic -– Overall World Cup leader Hannah Kearney of Norwich, Vt., celebrated her birthday Saturday winning her sixth World Cup of the season in Marianske Lazne beating rival Jennifer Heil of Canada. Jeremy Cota of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, took third, earning his second World Cup podium of the season.

With clear, cold skies, sugary snow and a crowd of several thousand, the stage was set in Marianske Lazne for a World Cup to remember.

The day began with Kearney qualifying first, something key to her strategy in giving her the choice of lanes throughout the finals. With convincing runs, Kearney blitzed the first heat and the quarterfinals. In the semifinals she earned payback against Canadian Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, who beat her at Worlds, in order to face Heil in the final.

Saturday’s World Cup final was a showdown of giants. Kearney, who has been nearly unstoppable this World Cup season finally had the opportunity to face off against her friend and rival the 2011 individual and dual moguls World Champion Jennifer Heil of Canada.

In the final run, Heil was the first across the line of the short and fast Czech course. Speed wasn’t everything, though, as Kearney’s run was cleaner and more technical. The judges rewarded her the win 19.16.

With her win Saturday, Kearney has firmly cemented her lead in both the overall and moguls World Cup standings. There are three moguls events remaining.

On the men’s side, Jeremy Cota led the USA in third adding to what has been his best season with two World Cup podiums and three fourths.

The U.S. put three men and three women in the top 10. Joining Kearney were Kayla Snyderman of Winchester, Mass., in eighth and Eliza Outtrim of Steamboat Springs, Colo., in ninth. For the men, Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, Wash.) was eighth with David DiGravio (Farmington, Maine) ninth. In his first international World Cup, Jay Panther (Park City) was 15th.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup, Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic, Dual Moguls

Men

1. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada

2. Mikael Kingsbury, Canada

3. Jeremy Cota, Carrabassett Valley, ME

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8. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA

9. David DiGravio, Farmington, ME

12. Nate Roberts, Park City, UT

15. Jay Panther, Park City, UT

17. Joe Discoe, Telluride, CO

24. Sho Kashima, Lake Tahoe, CA

Women

1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT

2. Jennifer Heil, Canada

3. Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, Canada

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8. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA

9. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO

11. Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT

13. Heidi Klosser, Vail, CO