Sapporo, Japan — Canada’s Beckie Scott finished the 2005-06 World Cup season the way she began it last November in Canada — stepping onto the podium in a World Cup pursuit race. Only this time it was gold in Sapporo, Japan on Sunday.
Canada’s most decorated cross-country skier capped off a stellar campaign with her fourth gold medal of the season after crossing the line in the women’s pursuit race with a time of 45 minutes 35.0 seconds.
''I'm ready for some sushi and then a party,'' Scott said. ''This is the way I wanted to finish. It was important for me to finish on top.'' The mass start pursuit race combines 7.5 kilometres of classic skiing with an additional 7.5 kilometers of skate skiing. Athletes enter a transition zone in between the two legs to exchange skis.
Joining Scott on the podium was Norway’s Kristin Steira Stoermer in second spot at 45:36.8, while Germany’s Evi Sachenbacher Stehle was third at 46:04.9. The victory marks not only the fourth World Cup gold medal of the season for the Vermilion, Alta. native, but also in her 11-year career. It is also the 10th time the Olympic gold and silver medalist stepped onto the World Cup podium this season.
Scott also barely missed out on winning the overall World Cup title in the final event of the season. Norway's Marit Bjoergen finished fourth to hold on to the title. Only 66 points separated Scott and Bjoergen heading into Sunday's race and Scott needed to win the pursuit and for Bjoergen to finish no higher than eighth. Defending champion Bjoergen finished the season with 1,036 points. Scott was second with 1,020 points.
 and 39th (1:22:38.7) respectively.</p>
<p>Sweden’s Matthias Fredriksson set the pace in the men’s race after crossing the line first with a time of 1:16:45.4. Norway’s Petter Northug won a dash to the line for the silver medal (1:16:49.2) over Sweden’s Anders Soedergren who settled for the bronze medal (1:16:49.5).</p>
<p>Recognized by many around the world as a strong short-distance skier, Scott’s remarkable season proved she is a force to reckon with in all World Cup distances. To go along with her four gold medals, the Canadian also racked up five silvers and one bronze in nearly every discipline on the World Cup circuit this year, which brought her to races in Canada, Europe, Scandinavia and Asia. While Scott also claimed numerous top-10 finishes, one of her season highlights came last month when she joined forces with longtime World Cup comrade, Sara Renner, to claim a silver medal in the team sprint at the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.</p>
<p>The success of the Canadian cross-country ski team did not end with its leader. The senior squad combined to win a total of 16 World Cup and two Olympic medals between December and March, marking the most successful season in the history of the national program. Other highlights of the historic year include:<br />
· Devon Kershaw winning a World Cup bronze medal in the men’s sprint marking the first medal in nearly two decades for a Canadian male;<br />
· Chandra Crawford winning Olympic gold and World Cup bronze medals in women’s sprint;<br />
· Sara Renner claiming the first four World Cup medals of her career (two silver, two bronze in 10 kilometer classic, sprint, team sprint);<br />
· Numerous personal bests and top-20 finishes for young men’s and women’s team.</p>
<p>Renner, Crawford and Kershaw will return to Canada on Monday, March 20. The trio will arrive at the Calgary International Airport around 2 p.m. on Air Canada flight 210 from Vancouver.</p>
<p>Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually. </p>
<p>Complete Results: <a href=http://www.fis-ski.com)
www.fis-ski.com
Top-5 Women and Canadian Results:
1. Beckie Scott, Vermilion, Alta., CAN, 45:35.0; 2. Kristin Steira Stoermer, NOR, 45:36.8; 3. Evi Sachenbacher Stehle, GER, 46:04.9; 4. Marit Bjoergen, NOR, 46:17.3; 5. Katerina Neumannova, CZE, 46:21.2Other Canadian Results:
14. Sara Renner, Canmore, Alta., 47:24.7; 41. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta., 54:21.2.
Top-5 Men and Canadian Results:
1. Matthias Fredriksson, SWE, 1:16:45.4; 2. Petter Northug, NOR, 1:16:49.2; 3. Anders Soedergren, SWE, 1:16:49.5; 4. Andrus Veerpalu, EST, 1:16:57.2; 5. Frode Estil, NOR, 1:17:30.0.
Canadian Results:
36. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont., 1:22:08.5; 39. George Grey, Rossland, B.C., 1:22:38.7
Source: Cross Country Canada
