FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Kranj-Medovde (SLO)
Individual start 10 km C juniors men, 01.02.2006
Matt Gelso was the top North American in today's 1oK classic race at the Junior World Championships. He finished 16th, 2:22 behind winner Petter Northug of Norway. Other North Americans:
16. Matt Gelso USA
56. Christopher Butler CAN
59. Glenn Randall USA
60. Max Treinen USA
64. Jackson Harris USA
71. Frederic Touchette CAN
78. Brent McMurtry CAN
82. Georg Jalkotzy CAN
The Norwegian Petter Northug repeated his victory from yesterday and finished first the 10 km classical race. Second place took the 19-year-old Czech Martin Jaks, 25,1 seconds behind the winner.
Dario Alonzo Cologna from Switzerland finished the course as third 1:20,4 minute clearly behind Northug.
For Northug it was the fourth Junior World Champion title in his career, two last year and until now two victory this year. Martin Jaks wasn't before on the podium in a FIS Junior World Ski Championships but he started already in some World Cup races and got his first World Cup points in the Sprint World Cup competition in Otepää (25th place) at the beginning of January.
Spectators: 1.000
Weather: cloudy, 0°C
Quotes:
Petter Northug, NOR: ” After the tough race yesterday I was very surprised about my victory today especially about the big gap between me and the others. Now my goal is it to win another gold medal on Friday because the Pursuit competition is my favourite and best competition format.”
Martin Jaks, CZE: “I had a good feeling at the start this morning. During the whole race I had very good ski's with a good grip. I hoped that I will win a medal but I was not sure, because also the other athletes are strong. On the start I had only the wish that Petter Northug don't be so fast that he will keel over me. He is in a very good shape. I had not the chance to attack him.”
Dario Alonzo Cologna, SUI: ” This podium place was a great surprise for me. I had a quite good race and ski's, but I'm also in the moment in a good shape. My tactics was to start strong and try to keep steady the speed, 10 km are not so a long distance for me. I will compete on Friday in the Pursuit competition but I don't expect to much.”
Individual start 5km C juniors women, 01.02.2006
Amanda Ammar of Canada placed 6th in the 5K classic race today at the Junior World Championships. She was 45 seconds behind the winner.
North American women:
6. Amanda Ammar CAN
25. Sadie Bjornsen USA
27. Liz Stephen USA
41. Morgan Smyth USA
50. Morgan Arritola USA
56. Brittany Webster CAN
65. Kate Brennan CAN
66. Hannah Perry CAN
Astrid Jacobsen from Norway is the winner of the 5km individual start race in the classical style. That is her second Junior World Champion title after her victory in the Sprint race yesterday. Jacobsen finished the course in 13:58.91 minutes, 18,44 seconds ahead of the Czech Eva Nyvltoya. The third place took 18-year-old Charlotte Kalla from Sweden, 32,69 seconds behind of Jacobsen. Kalla finished yesterday fourth.
Last year Astrid Jacobsen only start at the Sprint races at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Rovaniemi (FIN).
Spectators: 2.000
Weather: cloudy, 0°C
Quotes:
Astrid Jacobsen, NOR: “I was very surprised about my today's victory. After the tough race yesterday I felt a little bit tired especially in my legs. The course is not so soft than yesterday but tough enough. I will also compete at the Pursuit races on Friday and the Team competition on Sunday. I will try to fight for another podium place.”
Eva Nyvltova, CZE: “I'm very happy about my race. I had a good feeling before and during this race. I knew that I was very fast but I don't know if it's enough for the podium. I was only a little bit afraid of the downhill's, they are to fast for me. On Friday I will compete in the Pursuit race and hope I'm successful again.”
Charlotte Kalla, SWE: “This morning I said to me: ” Take it easy and relax”, and that works. I'm quite satisfied about this race especially I was also strong in the Sprint race yesterday. I don't really know that I had a chance to get on the podium, it wasn't my best competition. After the race it was hard to wait more than 30 minutes until it was sure that I'm today under the top three.”
FULL RESULTS: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=17492&cal_suchsector=CC
