In Friday’s 5 km Cross Country competition, the team from Russia gave an extraordinary performance.
Natalja Iliana, who is living in the Moskova region, won before her teammate Joulia Kolesnitchenko. The bronze medal went to Betty-Ann Nilsen from Norway. She already got a bronze medal on Monday’s 10 km competition. The two other members of the Russian team, Evgenija Bazarnova and Olga Tiagai ended up 4th and 7th. Their coach had good reasons to be proud of his team, he and the team posed for many photos straight after the result was out.
– This was my first race during this JWSC today, so I tried to use my chance and give as much as I could. I’m very happy that it was good enough for the first place, said the 19-year-old Sports student Iliana in the press conference.
– I’m so happy for my friend Natalja and for sure also about my own result, the silver medallist Joulia Kolesnitchenko told the press. She and her team was looking forward to Saturday’s relay competition, they were positive to get a good result from that after their performances on Friday.
– I tried to open hard and I’m kind of satisfied it worked quite well. I managed to do how I planned. My skies were really good today, we knew how the snow is so we didn’t have problems in preparing, the third placed Betty-Ann Nilsen said.
The Finnish team didn’t fulfill their own expectations. Noora Virtanen was the best Finnish girl in this race on the 12th place. Silja Tarvonen from Kangasniemi ended up as 22nd, Ulla Kiili was 33rd and Emilia Soundunsaari took the disappointing 52nd place.
RESULTS: http://www.jwsc2005.net/listat/CCLadies5kmFOfficalResults.pdf
Source: www.jwsc.net
