Under 23 World Championships
Bormio, Italy
February 13 - February 16, 2003
February 13 - Classic Mass Start
Kris Freeman, of the US Ski Team, won the the men's 30km mass start race at the Under-23 World Championships in Italy today. He beat second place, Johann Olsson, of Sweden, by almost 2 minutes. Sebastian Schlott of Germany rounded off the podium in 3rd place.
In the women's classs Seraina Boner of Switzerland won the 15k classic mass start race. Norwegian Kristin Steira finished second, 17 seconds behind the winner, followed by her team mate Kristin Stemland, 32 seconds off the lead. The top North American was Aubrey Smith, finishing a respectible 12th.
Men
1- Kris Freeman, USA
2- Johann Olsson, SWE, +1:44
3- Sebastian Schlott, GER, +1:44
17- Ethan Foster, USA, +4:03
21- Chris Cook, USA, +4:43
25- Devon Kershaw, +6:12
27- Drew Goldsac, +6:46
35- Adam Kates, +10:47
Women
1- Seaina Soner, SWISS
2- Kristin Steira, NOR
3- Kristin Stemland, NOR
12- Aubrey Smith, USA, +2:19
15- Lindsey Weier, USA, +2:40
16- Erin Whitman, USA,+ 2:50
20- Melissa Oram, USA, +4:02
22- Tara Whitten, CAN, +4:12
23- Sarah Daitch, CAN, +5:24
February 14 - Sprints
Edmonton-native Tara Whitten sped her way to a silver medal at the sprint cross-country ski race held as the second of a three race series unfolded at the Under-23 World Championships held in Bormio, Italy.
"My skis were good, my body was good, and I felt my tactics were in place," says Whitten. " I was going to try and stay in second place until the downhills, and then try to pass into the finish."
Whitten may not have got the gold, but she was only a single boot length away from the winning Italian, Christina Kelder. Third place went to France's Emilie Vima. Whitten has been an up-and-coming sprinter on the Subaru Continental Cup circuit for the last few seasons. Canadian teammate Sarah Daitch, of the North West Territories, qualified 20th this morning. The top American was Olympian Kikkan Randall who placed 8th. There were twenty-seven women who started the sprint race this morning, but only the top-16 return for the finals.
On the men's side, Norway's Jon Kristian took the lead, followed by Germany in second, and Fredrik Bystroen of Sweden in 3rd. The top North American today was Junior racer Andrew Newell, who came in 8th, followed by teammate Chris Cook in 9th. Red Deer, Alberta's Drew Goldsack was the top Canadian, qualifying 25th this morning. He was followed by teammates Devon Kershaw of Sudbury and Vincent Renart of Sherbrooke, Quebec, who both tied for 34th spot. Adam Kates, of Sault Ste Marie crossed the line in 38th. There were 47 men competing in the preliminaries.
February 16 - Duathlon
American Kris Freeman, the U23 30-km classic champion, missed the bronze medal by a half-minute today as he finished fourth in the duathlon race (7.5-km classic followed by 7.5-km free technique) that concluded the first U-23 cross championships. The race was won by Russian Serguei Novikov followed by Italian Thomas Moriggl in second, 28.1 seconds later. Moriggl narrowly edged Russian Dmitri Tichkine, who finished third.
Devon Kershaw was the top Canadian in the race, finishing 24th two minutes and 25.7 seconds behind the winner. Drew Goldsack was 38th and Adam Kates 42nd, while Vincent Renard did not finish. 47 men finished the race.
The women's 5-km CL and 5-km FR pursuit was also won by a Russian. Olga Rocheva narrowly beat Norwegian Kristin Steira Stoemer by 0.6 seconds for the win. Laila Selbaek finished 3rd. Kikkan Randall was the top North American in 18th, nipping Lindsey Weier by 0.7 at the finish. Canadian Tara Whitten was 21st, 2 minutes and 22.8 seconds behind the winner. Sarah Daitch finished 30th. 34 women finished the race.
|
