PRAGELATO, Italy (Feb. 22) – American Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) made history Wednesday as she was ninth in the Olympic cross country sprint, the best all-time Olympic finish by any U.S. woman.
Canadian Chandra Crawford won the gold and was followed by silver medalist Claudia Kuenzel of Germany and bronze winner Alena Sidko of Russia. Canadian Beckie Scott was fourth.
Other U.S. finishes today included Wendy Wagner (Park City, UT) in 35th and Lindsay Williams (Hastings, MN) in 38th.
, she finished fourth in her heat, which included Kuenzel and Scott.</p>
<p>The sprint event debuted at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, where Tessa Benoit had the best U.S. finish in 38th.</p>
<p>Prior to Randall's ninth, the best Olympic cross country finish by a U.S. woman was posted by Nina Kemppel, who was 15th in the 30k in 2002.</p>
<p>Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) placed 16th and was the top American finisher in Wednesday's Olympic Men's cross country sprint. Chris Cook (Rhinelander, WI) was 21st, Torin Koos (Leavenworth, WA) was 36th and Lars Flora (Anchorage, AK) was 46th.</p>
<p>XX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES<br />
Pragelato, ITA – Feb. 22, 2006<br />
Cross Country Women's Sprint</p>
<p>1. Chandra Crawford, Canada<br />
2. Claudia Kuenzel, Germany<br />
3. Alena Sidko, Russia<br />
4. Beckie Scott, Canada<br />
5. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland<br />
—<br />
9. Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, Alaska<br />
35. Wendy Wagner, Park City, Utah<br />
38. Lindsay Williams, Hastings, Minn.</p>
<p>For complete results:<br />
<a href=http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/IDF/CC/C73D3_CCW601000.html)
http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/IDF/CC/C73D3_CCW601000.html
Source: US Ski Team
