Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finals – Falun, Sweden

The first day of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finals saw some good finishes for the US skiers. On the women’s side Kikkan Randall and Sophie Caldwell both made the final of the women’s sprint event. Randall finished fourth and Caldwell sixth. Sadie Bjornsen also had a strong day as she made the quarterfinals and but missed out on the next round by one spot. Ida Sargent also made the quarterfinals while Jessica Diggins just missed out when she finished with the 34th best qualifying time and only the top 30 moved on. The final two Americans were Elizabeth Stephen in 44th and Caitlin Gregg in 48th.

In the men’s sprint event Andrew Newell made the semifinals before missing out on the final by less than than 0.4 seconds. He was the only American man to move on from qualifying after Reese Hanneman came up one spot short in 31st (0.45 seconds behind) and Noah Hoffman finished 46th.

Tomorrow is the skiathlon (half classic style half free style) with the same competitors as today for the US traveling a much longer distance, though only once.

Schedule:

• March 15th
  • 5:30 AM ET – Women’s Skiathlon (7.5km Classic/7.5km Free)
    • Kikkan Randall
    • Sophie Caldwell
    • Sadie Bjornsen
    • Ida Sargent
    • Jessica Diggins
    • Elizabeth Stephen
    • Caitlin Gregg
  • 8:15 AM ET – Men’s  Skiathlon (15km Classic/15km Free)
    • Andrew Newell
    • Reese Hanneman
    • Noah Hoffman

Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Ski Cross – Are, Sweden

Things were supposed to get underway at the final ski cross event of the year with the qualification round on Friday but the weather didn’t cooperate so we’re stuck with everything happening in the next two days. Saturday will feature both the qualification round and the elimination rounds. John Teller and Joe Swensson are in the field for the US.

Schedule:

• March 15th
  • 7:30 AM ET – Men’s Ski Cross Qualifying
    • John Teller
    • Joe Swensson
  • 10:20 AM ET – Men’s Ski Cross Round of 32
  • 10:52 AM ET – Men’s Ski Cross Quarterfinals
  • 11:12 AM ET – Men’s Ski Cross Semifinals
  • 11:29 AM ET – Men’s Ski Cross Final

Speed Skating World Cup Final – Heerenveen, Netherlands

The Speed Skating World Cup Final started on Friday. In the women’s 1500m Brittany Bowe finished 5th and got nipped for second in the season standings as she finished third for the year.

In the men’s 1000m Shani Davis finished second by 0.22 seconds with Brian Hansen in eighth and Mitchell Whitmore in 11th. Davis won the season long title with Hansen in sixth and Whitmore 12th.

Finally in the women’s mass start Maria Lamb finished seventh while Patrick Meek was seventh in the men’s event for the US.

Saturday will see things continue with six individuals skating for the US and the men’s team pursuit event.

• March 15th
  • 10:22 AM ET – Men’s 1500m Division A
    • Brian Hansen
    • Shani Davis
  • 11:18 AM ET – Women’s 500m Division A (Race 1 of 2)
    • Brittany Bowe
    • Heather Richardson
  • 11:41 AM ET – Men’s 500m Division A (Race 1 of 2)
    • Mitchell Whitmore
    • Tucker Fredricks
  • 12:29 PM ET – Men’s Team Pursuit
    • Brian Hansen, Patrick Meek, Mitchell Whitmore