Category Archives: Cross-Country Skiing

The Melting Pot: Gold for the US in Ice Sledge Hockey at the Paralympics, Strong Results at Speed Skating World Cup Finals

2014 Winter Paralympics – Sochi, Russia

In the men’s giant slalom on Saturday Mark Bathum took a DNF on the first run of the visually impaired division while Jonathan Lujan was a DNF in the standing division as was Scott Meyer in the sitting division while Stephen Lawler did not start the event. James Stanton was a did not start on the second run in the standing division. Christopher Devlin-Young did not finish the second sitting run.

As for those who completed two runs, Ralph Green was 16th, Joel Hunt 24th, and Tyler Carter 27th in the standing division. In the sitting division Heath Calhoun notched a top-ten finish for the US as he was sixth. Jasmin Bambur was 17th as well for the US in the sitting division.

In cross-country’s 4×2.5km mixed relay the US team of Tatyana McFadden and Jacob Adicoff (they both went twice) finished sixth, 1:31.1 off the lead. The US also had a team in the 4×2.5km open relay. Augusto Jose Perez, Omar Bermejo, Bryan Price, and Kevin Burton finished ninth, 5:35.5 behind the winners.

Finally, and most excitedly, the US ice sledge hockey team won the gold medal with a 1-0 win over Russia. The US avenged an earlier 2-0 loss to Russia in the group stage as Joshua Sweeney had the only goal and Steve Cash made six saves for the US.

The Paralympics will wrap up tomorrow. The US has seven athletes in the women’s giant slalom event as well as ten men in the men’s 10km free cross-country skiing and four athletes in the women’s 5km free cross-country skiing event.

NBCSN will have live coverage of the women’s giant slalom from 4:30-6:30 AM ET.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 1:30 AM ET – Women’s Alpine Skiing – Giant Slalom – Run 1 – Visually Impaired
      • Lindsay Ball
      • Staci Mannella
    • 1:55 AM ET – Women’s Alpine Skiing – Giant Slalom – Run 1 – Standing
      • Stephanie Jallen
      • Melanie Schwartz
      • Allison Jones
    • 2 AM ET – Men’s Cross-Country Skiing – 10km Free – Standing
      • John Oman
      • Omar Bermejo
    • 2:20 AM ET – Men’s Cross-Country Skiing – 10km Free – Visually Impaired
      • Kevin Burton
      • Jacob Adicoff
    • 2:35 AM ET – Women’s Alpine Skiing – Giant Slalom – Run 1 – Sitting
      • Alana Nichols
      • Laurie Stephens
    • 4:30 AM ET – Women’s Cross-Country Skiing – 5km Free – Sitting
      • Beth Requist
      • Monica Bascio
      • Tatyana McFadden
      • Oksana Masters
    • 4:45 AM ET – Men’s Cross-Country Skiing – 10km Free – Sitting
      • Travis Dodson
      • Aaron Pike
      • Jeremy Wagner
      • Andrew Soule
      • Sean Halsted
      • Daniel Cnossen
    • 5 AM ET – Women’s Alpine Skiing – Giant Slalom – Run 2 – Visually Impaired
    • 5:15 AM ET – Women’s Alpine Skiing – Giant Slalom – Run 2 – Standing
    • 5:45 AM ET – Women’s Alpine Skiing – Giant Slalom – Run 2 – Sitting

Speed Skating World Cup Final – Heerenveen, Netherlands

The US continued to have success at the Speed Skating World Cup Final on Saturday. Starting things off Shani Davis finished fifth in the men’s 1500m with Brian Hansen in seventh. Both were within 0.6 seconds of the winner and 0.3 seconds of the bronze. It was a disappointing fifth though for Davis who would have won the season title with a second place finish but instead ends up third in the season standings. Hansen placed fifth for the season.

Heather Richardson placed second in the women’s 500m, 0.12 seconds back, with Brittany Bowe back in 10th. There is one last women’s 500m race tomorrow and Richardson has the co-most points on the season standings. If she can better Olga Fatkulina of Russia’s result tomorrow she’ll win the season title. Fatkulina won today’s event.

In the men’s 500m Mitchell Whitmore was 11th and Tucker Fredricks was 13th. Fredricks is still sixth in the season standings but needs a good finish tomorrow in the final men’s 500m of the season to lock down a top finish.

Finally in the men’s team pursuit the US team of Brian Hansen, Patrick Meek, Mitchell Whitmore finished fourth and were 11.54 seconds behind the winners (Netherlands) and 6.46 seconds behind Norway. The US finished second in the season long standings behind the Netherlands.

Things wrap up on Sunday with the second race in both the men’s and women’s 500m as well as the women’s 1000m event with both Bowe and Richardson. Richardson leads the season standings by 70 points over Bowe so a good result will give her the season title and the US could easily go 1-2 for the year.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 8:30 AM ET – Women’s 500m Division A (Race 2 of 2)
      • Brittany Bowe
      • Heather Richardson
    • 11 AM ET – Women’s 1000m Division A
      • Brittany Bowe
      • Heather Richardson
    • 11:49 AM ET – Men’s 500m Division A (Race 2 of 2)
      • Mitchell Whitmore
      • Tucker Fredricks

Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Moguls – Voss-Myrkdalen, Norway

The start list is in for the dual moguls event tomorrow in Voss-Myrkdalen, Norway. Six women will represent the US with Eliza Outtrim (6th), Heather McPhie (5th), Hannah Kearney (2nd) and Sophia Schwartz (9th) all in the top ten of the World Cup standings. On the men’s side there are seven US competitors and Bradley Wilson (5th) and Patrick Deneen (3rd) currently sit in the top ten.

There is another dual moguls event next week in La Plagne, France so there are still a lot of points up for grabs in the season standings.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 3:15 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Qualifying
      • Ali Kariotis
      • Heather McPhie
      • Hannah Kearney
      • Keaton McCargo
      • Eliza Outtrim
      • Sophia Schwartz
    • 4:45 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Qualifying
      • Patrick Deneen
      • Troy Murphy
      • Jeremy Cota
      • Joseph Discoe
      • Bryon Wilson
      • Bradley Wilson
      • Dylan Walczyk
    • 7 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Round of 16
    • 7:12 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Round of 16
    • 7:24 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Quarterfinals
    • 7:32 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Quarterfinals
    • 7:40 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Semifinals
    • 7:48 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Semifinals
    • 7:59 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Finals
    • 8:07 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Finals

Alpine Skiing World Cup – Lenzerheide, Switzerland

The start lists have been released for the final Alpine Skiing World Cup events of the year. The men wrap up with the slalom and Ted Ligety, Bode Miller, and Tim Jitloff will represent the US. The women will wrap up with the giant slalom and the only one in the event for the US is Mikaela Shiffrin. The US has been so strong this week and it’d be great to see a medal on the final day. Unfortunately the top skiers for the US in these events were doing their better event on Saturday so there’s less chance of medals here. Still both Ligety and Shiffrin are in great form and are good enough to medal on Sunday to wrap up the year.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 4 AM ET – Men’s Slalom Run 1
      • Ted Ligety
      • Bode Miller
      • Tim Jitloff
    • 5 AM ET – Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1
      • Mikaela Shiffrin
    • 6:30 AM ET – Men’s Slalom Run 2
    • 7:30 AM ET – Women’s Giant Slalom Run 2

Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finals – Falun, Sweden

The start lists are finally in as well for the final Cross-Country Skiing World Cup event of the season. Kikkan Randall will be the first American across the start line. She’s 14th to start and 2:54 behind the leader. Elizabeth Stephen starts 18th, 3:13 back, with Sadie Bjornsen right behind her in 19th at the same time. Jessica Diggins, Ida Sargent, Sophie Caldwell, and Caitlin Gregg are also in the event but start at least four minutes back.

On the men’s side Noah Hoffman will start 21st, 4:19 back, with Reese Hanneman starting 38th, 9:56 back, and Andrew Newell starting 39th, 10:15 back.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 8:30 AM ET – Women’s 10 km Free Pursuit
      • Kikkan Randall
      • Sophie Caldwell
      • Sadie Bjornsen
      • Ida Sargent
      • Jessica Diggins
      • Elizabeth Stephen
      • Caitlin Gregg
    • 11 AM ET – Men’s 15km Free Pursuit
      • Andrew Newell
      • Reese Hanneman
      • Noah Hoffman

The Melting Pot: Mikaela Shiffrin and Ted Ligety Both Win Gold and Season Titles In Alpine Skiing World Cup

World Women’s Curling Championships – Montreal, Canada

The World Women’s Curling Championships start on Saturday and the US is one of 12 nations represented. The US team is not the same one that competed in the Olympics which may or may not be a good thing. This team is skipped by Allison Pottinger (the alternate on the Olympic team who was never used) with Nicole Joraanstad as third, Natalie Nicholson as second and Tabitha Peterson as lead. Tara Peterson is their alternate.

They start play with China on Saturday. China won the 2013 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships and were 11th at the 2012 World Women’s Championships and 7th in the Olympics.

Schedule:

  • March 15th
    • 6:30 PM ET – USA vs. China

Snowboard World Cup – La Molina, Spain

The Snowboard World Cup wrapped up the 2013-14 season on Saturday in La Molina, Spain with the finals of snowboard cross. Lindsey Jacobellis was the only US woman competing and she won both her quarterfinal and semifinal heats to advance to the big final. In the big final she placed second to grab silver in her final event of the season. She also finished second in the season standings. In the men’s event Mick DierdorffNick Baumgartner, and Hagen Kearney all advanced from the 1/8 finals while Jonathan Cheever was fourth in his heat and didn’t advance. In the quarterfinals Dierdorff and Kearney were in the same heat with only Dierdorff moving on after he finished second and Kearney fourth in the heat. Baumgartner was also eliminated after placing fourth. Dierdorff missed out on spot in the big final after finishing third in his semifinal heat but did win the small final to secure a fifth place finish to wrap up the year. Baumgartner was the top finisher for the US in the season standings as he placed 14th.

Alpine Skiing World Cup – Lenzerheide, Switzerland

The Alpine Skiing World Cup is at its final stop in Lenzerheide, Switzerland and the US has as good a day as you can on SaturdayTed Ligety took first in the men’s giant slalom edging out the second place finisher by 0.03 seconds. The US also placed Tim Jitloff in 14th and Bode Miller in 15th. In the women’s slalom event Mikaela Shiffrin was the only one representing the US but they didn’t need anyone else. Shiffrin smoked the field on run one by over one and a half seconds and even a tenth best run on the second was enough to win her the title by 1.44 seconds.

Ligety’s win, his fifth of the year in the giant slalom, gave him the season long title on a tiebreaker of most wins. Ligety would have wrapped up the title a while ago but only competed in six of the eight events this year. Shiffrin also won her fifth event of the year but she had clinched the season title last week.

Sunday will be the men’s slalom and the women’s giant slalom events. I’ll have an update on who will start those events for the US later today.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 4 AM ET – Men’s Slalom Run 1
    • 5 AM ET – Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1
    • 6:30 AM ET – Men’s Slalom Run 2
    • 7:30 AM ET – Women’s Giant Slalom Run 2

Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finals – Falun, Sweden

The second day of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finals featured the skiathlon events. On the women’s side Elizabeth Stephen was the top finisher for the US in 15th about two minutes behind the winner. Kikkan Randall followed her in 20th with Sadie Bjornsen right behind her in 21st. The US also had Jessica Diggins in 36th, Ida Sargent in 37th, Caitlin Gregg in 40th, and Sophie Caldwell 41st.

In the men’s sprint event Noah Hoffman was the top American as he finished 18th. Reese Hanneman was 38th and Andrew Newell 39th to round out the field for the US.

The 2013-14 World Cup season wraps up with the pursuit events on Sunday. I’ll have more info on who will represent the US when the start lists are published.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 8:30 AM ET – Women’s 10 km Free Pursuit
    • 11 AM ET – Men’s 15km Free Pursuit

Freestyle Skiing World Cup – Moguls – Voss-Myrkdalen, Norway

The final moguls event of the Freestyle Skiing World Cup was Saturday in Voss-Myrkdalen, Norway on Saturday. Heather McPhieHannah Kearney, Ali Kariotis, and Eliza Outtrim all advanced from qualifying for the US. Keaton McCargo was one spot short in 17th, 0.15 points short, while Sophie Schwartz did not start the event. Only Kearney advanced from the first round of the finals as Outtrim and McPhie just missed out in seventh and eighth both within 0.3 points of advancing in sixth. Kariotis was further back in 13th. In the final Kearney finished third in a tight battle for the top that saw her just a 0.48 points back of first and 0.15 points behind second.

On the men’s side Patrick Deneen and Troy Murphy were the only two Americans to advance from qualifying. Bradley Wilson was just outside in 17th, 0.04 points back of 16th, with Dylan Walczyk 19th, Jeremy Cota 23rd, Bryon Wilson 25th and Joseph Discoe 31st. Murphy had a rough run on his first final run and was eliminated in 15th while Deneen advanced in fifth. In the second final Deneen finished third to grab the bronze.

There will be a dual moguls event on Sunday with qualifying to start things off. I’ll have coverage of which Americans are in the field later today once the start lists are revealed.

Schedule:

  • March 16th
    • 3:15 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Qualifying
    • 4:45 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Qualifying
    • 7 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Round of 16
    • 7:12 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Round of 16
    • 7:24 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Quarterfinals
    • 7:32 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Quarterfinals
    • 7:40 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Semifinals
    • 7:48 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Semifinals
    • 7:59 AM ET – Women’s Dual Moguls Finals
    • 8:07 AM ET – Men’s Dual Moguls Finals

The Melting Pot: Shani Davis Second in the 1000m at World Cup Final, Kikkan Randall Fourth in Sprint at World Cup Final

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

Kikkan Randall and Sadie Bjornsen Make It Two Americans in the Top 15 of the Women’s 30km Cross-Country World Cup Race in Oslo

Previous Oslo – FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Coverage

The cross-country women took their turn at the longest distance they’ll cover all year on Sunday. The mass start women’s 30km classic had seven US women in the field and they had a strong showing. Kikkan Randall led the way in 12th 4:17.7 behind the winner while Sadie Bjornsen was 14th, 4:27.8 behind. There were two more Americans in 32nd and 35th (Elizabeth Stephen and Sophie Caldwell) while Caitlin Gregg made if five of the top 40 from the US with a 39th place finish.

Oslo - Womens 30km Classic

Only one weekend is left in the 2013-14 Cross-Country World Cup season. The World Cup Finals will be held next week in Falun, Sweden starting on Friday the 14th and continuing through Sunday. Friday will have sprint events, Saturday will have skiathlons, and Sunday will have pursuit events.

Noah Hoffman Finishes 29th in Grueling 2+ Hour 50km Cross-Country World Cup Race in Oslo

Previous Oslo – FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Coverage

The cross-country men took on the long 50km race on Saturday in Oslo. Noah Hoffman led the way for the US as the only American to place in the top 50 as he finished 29th, seven minutes behind the winner. Three Americans finished from 51st-56th (Erik Bjornsen, Simeon Hamilton, Reese Hanneman) while two others did not finish.

Oslo - Mens 50km Classic

The women’s 30km will be held on Sunday and seven Americans will take part. Elizabeth Stephen finished 24th and Kikkan Randall 28th in the similar race in Sochi which used the freestyle instead of classic. WeSupportTheUS.com will have coverage of the results on Sunday evening.

Schedule:

  • March 9th
    • 6 AM ET – Women’s 30km Classic
      • Elizabeth Stephen
      • Kikkan Randall
      • Sadie Bjornsen
      • Caitlin Gregg
      • Sophie Caldwell
      • Ida Sargent
      • Jennie Bender

Six US Men, Headlined by Noah Hoffman, in Field For 50km Mass Start Cross-Country World Cup Event in Oslo

Previous FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Coverage

For the first time since the Olympics the cross-country men will be going the full 50km in the most grueling event on the circuit. The 50km event in Oslo this Saturday will be done with the classic style instead of the free style that was used in Sochi. In the Olympics Noah Hoffman was the top American with a 26th place finish. None of the other five Americans in the field were in that race in Sochi.

This is the last time a race of this distance will be held this year with the longest race for the men at the World Cup Finals the skiathlon (15km classic/15km free).

WeSupportTheUS.com will have coverage of the results of the men’s 50km on Saturday evening as well as a look at the start list for the women’s 30km that will be held on Sunday.

Schedule:

  • March 8th
    • 6 AM ET – Men’s 50km Classic
      • Noah Hoffman
      • Sylvan Ellefson
      • Erik Bjornsen
      • Andrew Newell
      • Reese Hanneman
      • Simeon Hamilton

Kikkan Randall Finishes 7th, Wins 2013-14 Sprint Title, at Drammen Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Sprint Event

Previous Drammen – FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Coverage

Kikkan Randall wrapped up her third straight Cross-Country Skiing Sprint World Cup Title on Wednesday after a seventh place finish left her far enough ahead with one event left that she can’t be caught. It’s a huge accomplishment for the American who became the fourth woman ever to win three titles and third (all since 1998) to win it at least three times in a row.

Men’s Sprint

Drammen - Mens Sprint Qualification

On the men’s side only Andrew Newell was able to qualify for the finals after he placed 30th in the qualification round. Simeon Hamilton nearly made it in but finished 31st 0.23 seconds behind the final qualification spot. In the final Andrew Newell was quickly eliminated after finishing last in his quarterfinal heat, 25th overall.

Drammen - Mens Sprint Final

Women’s Sprint

Drammen - Womens Sprint Qualification

Kikkan Randall was the top American in qualifying with a 17th place finish and Sadie Bjornsen also qualified in 21st. Ida Sargent (35th) and Sophie Cadwell (37th) were both within 1.25 seconds of qualifying. Randall was eliminated in the semifinals after her time of 3:06.17 was third in her heat and not fast enough overall to grab a lucky loser spot, she finished seventh overall.

Drammen - Womens Sprint Final

Upcoming:

The next World Cup event is not far off, long mass-start events for the men (50km) and women (30km) will be held Saturday and Sunday in Oslo. Check back to WeSupportTheUS.com on Friday evening for a preview of the start list for the men’s event.

Six US Women and Five US Men About to Start Qualifying in Cross-County Skiing World Cup Event in Drammen, Norway

Things are just getting started in Drammen where a sprint event will be held today. This event actually involves skiing up and down the streets of Drammen, a very special and unique event on the World Cup tour.

Six American women (Kikkan Randall, Sophie Caldwell, Sadie Bjornsen, Ida Sargent, Holly Brooks, and Jennie Bender) and five American men (Andrew Newell, Simeon Hamilton, Erik Bjornsen, Sylvan Ellefson, and Reese Hanneman) are starting things off with their qualifying runs. If their time places high enough they’ll qualify for the elimination rounds later in the day.

Kikkan Randall is currently leading the Women’s Sprint World Cup standings. Check back later in the day for coverage of how the event went and if Randall could win a second straight sprint event.

Schedule:

  • March 5th
    • 8 AM ET – Classic Sprint Qualification – Women’s
      • Kikkan Randall
      • Sophie Caldwell
      • Sadie Bjornsen
      • Ida Sargent
      • Holly Brooks
      • Jennie Bender
    • 8:25 AM ET – Classic Sprint Qualification – Men’s
      • Andrew Newell
      • Simeon Hamilton
      • Erik Bjornsen
      • Sylvan Ellefson
      • Reese Hanneman
    • 10 AM ET – Classic Sprint Final – Women’s
    • 10 AM ET – Classic Sprint Final – Men’s

Kikkan Randall the Top American Again as She Places 21st in Women’s 10km Free Cross-Country World Cup Event in Lahti

Previous Lahti – FIS Cross-Country World Cup Coverage

Men’s 15km Free

Lahti - Mens 15km Free

Only one American placed in the top 50 in the men’s 15km free event and it was Noah Hoffman who was 24th about 90 seconds behind the winner. Hoffman was almost a minute in front of the next American, Erik Bjornsen, who placed 51st.

Women’s 10km Free

Lahti - Womens 10km Free

A day after winning the sprint event in Lahti, Kikkan Randall followed it up with a 21st place finish in the women’s 10km free event. Randall was 1:36.3 behind the winner. Three other Americans placed in the top 50 with Elizabeth Stephen the second highest in 32nd with her time of 26:59 leaving her 1:53.7 back.

Upcoming:

Wednesday, March 5th will be the next sprint competition in Drammen, Norway while the next races over this distance will be pursuit races at the World Cup Finals in Falun, Sweden on March 16th. WeSupportTheUS.com will have coverage of both of those competitions.

Kikkan Randall Wins Women’s Cross-Country Sprint World Cup Event in Lahti, Sophie Caldwell Finishes Third

Previous Lahti – FIS Cross-Country World Cup Coverage

Kikkan Randall moved into the lead in the season long World Cup Sprint standings after winning the Lahti event on Saturday. Not only did she win but fellow American Sophie Caldwell finished third in a photo finish. It was the first time EVER that two American finished in the top three at a World Cup Event.

Women’s Sprint

Lahti - Womens Sprint Qualification

In the qualifying round Kikkan Randall was only 11th fastest and Sophie Caldwell only made the quarterfinals by a few places finishing about a half second ahead of the 30th and final qualifier. No other Americans were real close to qualifying for the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals Randall put up a real strong time but in the semifinals she was second in her heat and Caldwell was third. They didn’t let them stop that in the final though when they both skied great and finished within a second of each other, taking the first and third spots.

Lahti - Womens Sprint Final

Men’s Sprint

Lahti - Mens Sprint Qualification

In men’s action the US did get two into the quarterfinals (Andrew Newell and Simi Hamilton) but not by much and the other three Americans all finished 69th or worse. Neither of the US men advanced from the quarterfinals as their events ended at the same place they did in the Olympics.

Lahti - Mens Sprint Final

Sunday Preview:

Sunday will feature basic distance races in the freestyle, 15km for men and 10km for women. Four men and six women will compete for the US with Kikkan Randall the only quarterfinalist from today in the events on Sunday. Check back to WeSupportTheUS.com tomorrow for coverage of the results of those races.

Schedule:

  • March 2nd
    • 3:45 AM ET – Freestyle 15km – Men’s
      • Noah Hoffman
      • Erik Bjornsen
      • Sylvan Ellefson
      • Resse Hanneman
    • 6:35 AM ET – Freestyle 10km – Women’s
      • Elizabeth Stephen
      • Ida Sargent
      • Kikkan Randall
      • Holly Brooks
      • Jennie Bender
      • Caitlin Gregg