FIS U 23 Cross-Country Skiing World Championships in Kranj-Medvode (SLO)
Pursuit 7,5km C + 7,5km F women and 15 km C + 15 km F men, 04.02.2006
Kowalczyk and Legkov were the winner of the Pursuit
Justyna Kowalczyk won her second U 23 World Champion title in Medvode. The athlete from Poland finished clearly 26,5 seconds ahead of Irina Artemova from Russia. Her team-mate Ioulia Tchekaleva took the third place 39,8 seconds behind Kowalczyk. This is exactly the result under the top three like in Thursday's 10 km classic competition.
Dasha Gaiazova recorded her third top six finish of the U23 Championships today. She finished 5th. Alison Crocker recorded the top US finish of the day in 17th place.
Other North Americans:
5. Dasha Gaiazova CAN
17. Alison Crocker USA
26. Lindsey Williams USA
27. Lindsey Weier USA
31. Perianne Jones CAN
36. Laura Valaas USA
38. Madeleine Williams CAN
Alexander Legkov (Russia), the third from the 15 km classical race on Thurday, could celebrate his first U23 World Champion title in the Pursuit competition. He finished the course in 1:17,19 hour ahead of his team-mate Sergej Shiriaev who was 13,8 seconds behind Legkov. The third place took the German Franz Goering, 15,8 seconds behind the winner. Goering was the winner of the 15 km classic competition on Thursday.
North Americans:
26. David Nighbor CAN
31. Graham Nishikawa CAN
34. Bryan Cook USA
36. Sean Crooks CAN
37. Michael Sinnot USA
39. Jesse Heckrodt CAN
DNF Brian Gregg USA
DNF Steve Scott USA
Weather: cloudy, – 5°C
Quotes:
Justyna Kowalcyzk, POL: “I am very happy and satisfied with my results. This is my second gold medal here and I feel great. The course was in great condition today, I especially liked the classic part of the track.”
Irina Artemova, RUS: “I won three times in the last year's championships, but I am pleased with the second place here. I like Slovenia and I hope I will come back.”
Ioulia Tchekaleva, RUS: “I didn't expect to win this medal, so I am very happy. The pist was great and the fans were really nice. I feel great here in Slovenia.”
Alexander Legkov, RUS: “The conditions on the course were great and the race was very tough. I tried to stay in the first group in the classic and then go faster in the skating part of the race. I made it and I am very happy that I am the U 23 World Champion. This is a very good result before the olympic games in Torino and I hope I will stay in the good form when I come to Italy.”
Sergej Shiriaev, RUS: “I am really happy, since this is my first great achievement in my career. I hope it is not the last one.”
Franz Goering, GER: “I had a few problems on the course, but I fought until the finish. Both Russians were better today and I would like to congratulate them for their results. I would like to thank all the fans, who were a great audience and were really fair to all the competitors.”
Results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=17492&cal_suchsector=CC
