SESTRIERE, Italy — The 2006 Paralympic Winter Games have been good to Steve Cook (Salt Lake City, Utah.). Cook took first place in the men’s standing 10K race on Wednesday, earning his second gold medal of these Games. He won the men’s 5K race earlier in the week, ending a 14-year gold medal drought for the U.S. Nordic Ski Team.
After winning four silver medals at the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Cook has proven to the world that he deserves to be atop the podium.
 the head coach of the Nordic squad, was not surprised with Cook’s results. </p>
<p>“One thing I have noticed about both of Steve’s races is that he has nothing left in the tank when he crosses the finish line. He’s leaving it all out on the course, and that’s just huge. I’m so impressed with his effort and his desire to win. That kind of effort means everything in these races.</p>
<p>“He is a great competitor and has worked his tail off to get to where he is. There is so much emotion; it is difficult to explain how great it feels. I am so proud of Cook and of the whole team. It is a group effort, and a win for the entire team. Two gold medals…it’s just fantastic!â€</p>
<p>Also competing in the men’s standing 10K race were Mike Crenshaw (Boulder, Colo.) and Dan Perkins (Syracuse, N.Y.). Crenshaw skied a great race, finishing seventh with a time of 29:18.0. Perkins took 16th place with a time of 30:33.7.</p>
<p>Both were very pleased with their races. “That was a much better race for me,†Crenshaw said. “I knew Cook would be coming up on me, so when he did I just latched on and tried to hang with him.â€</p>
<p>Perkins, who competed in the 7.5K biathlon one day earlier, said, “It was a good race. There are a lot of really fast guys competing in this class. I definitely left it all out there.â€</p>
<p>Kelly Underkofler (St. Paul, Minn.) finished 11th in the women’s standing 10K race with a time of 40:24.8. Having already competed in four races in five days, Underkofler said that she was not nearly as fresh as she would like.</p>
<p>“My legs and body are just tired,†she explained. “I’m looking forward to a day off tomorrow to get some rest and get ready for the relay.â€</p>
<p>Anna Burmistrova of Russia won the gold in the women’s standing 10K (16:33.5), Yuliya Batenkova of Ukraine clinched the silver (34:30.8), and Anne Floriet took the bronze (34:39.3).</p>
<p>The women sitting athletes raced a 5K, completing two laps of the 2.5K course. Monica Bascio (Evergreen, Colo.) was seventh, finishing with a time of 18:29.8, and Candace Cable (Truckee, Calif.) placed 10th with a time of 19:15.1. </p>
<p>The gold medal in the women’s 5K went to Olena Iurkovska of the Ukraine(16:39.7), her fourth gold medal of these Games. The silver medal was won by Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus (17:12.8), and the bronze went to Colette Bourgonje of Canada (17:18.7).</p>
<p>In the men’s sitting 10K race, Chris Klebl (Heber City, Utah) was the highest U.S. finisher, taking 18th place with a time of 29:24.3. Bob Balk (Long Beach, Calif.) finished 20th with a time of 29:38.2, and Greg Mallory was 22nd with a time of 30:21.1.</p>
<p>The gold medal in the men’s sitting 10K was won by Taras Kryjonovski of Russia (26:43.6). Sergej Shilov of Russia took the silver (26:52.1) and Iurii Kostiuk of the Ukraine claimed bronze (27:10.9).</p>
<p>The Nordic squad has a day off tomorrow. The cross-country relay races will take place on Friday. The women’s relay will consist of Bascio, Cable and Underkofler, with each athlete racing 2.5K. </p>
<p>The men’s relay will likely be Klebl, Crenshaw and Cook. The men’s relay consists of a leadoff sitting 3.75K, followed by two 5K legs (Crenshaw and Cook). </p>
<p>“We are all gearing up for the relay,†Cook said. “It’s going to be a great competition. We’re are a close group, so these team events are especially fun.â€</p>
<p>Results/Schedule of Events for U.S. Nordic Ski Team<br />
March 11<br />
Biathlon<br />
Women’s 12.5K Standing (Kelly Underkofler, 4th place)<br />
Women’s 10K Sitting (Monica Bascio, 6th place)</p>
<p>March 12<br />
Cross-Country<br />
Men’s 5K Standing (Steve Cook, 1st place/Gold Medal; Dan Perkins, 26th place; Mike Crenshaw, 28th place)<br />
Men’s 5K Sitting (Bob Balk, 11th place; Chris Klebl, 23rd place; Greg Mallory, 24th place)<br />
Women’s 5K Standing (Kelly Underkofler, 8th place)<br />
Women’s 2.5K Sitting (Candace Cable, 8th place; Monica Bascio, 9th place)</p>
<p>March 14<br />
Biathlon<br />
Men’s 7.5K (Dan Perkins, 20th place)<br />
Women’s 7.5K Standing (Kelly Underkofler, 7th place)<br />
Women’s 7.5K Sitting (Monica Bascio, 6th place)</p>
<p>March 15<br />
Cross-Country<br />
Men’s 10K Standing (Steve Cook 1st place/Gold Medal; Mike Crenshaw, 7th place; Dan Perkins, 16th place)<br />
Men’s 10K Sitting (Chris Klebl, 18th place; Bob Balk, 20th place; Greg Mallory, 22nd place)<br />
Women’s 10K Standing (Kelly Underkofler, 11th place)<br />
Women’s 5K Sitting (Monica Bascio, 7th place; Candace Cable, 10th place)</p>
<p>March 17<br />
Cross-Country<br />
Women’s Relay (3 x 2.5K)<br />
Men’s Relay (1 x 3.75K + 2 x 5K)</p>
<p>March 18<br />
Cross-Country<br />
Men’s 15K Sitting (Bob Balk, Chris Klebl, Greg Mallory)<br />
Women’s 10K Sitting (Monica Bascio, Candace Cable)</p>
<p>March 19<br />
Cross-Country<br />
Men’s 20K Standing (Steve Cook, Mike Crenshaw, Dan Perkins)<br />
Women’s 15K Standing (Kelly Underkofler)</p>
<p> Source: USOC</p>
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