Best Showing Since '05 for Freeman in Davos

DAVOS, Switzerland (Feb. 3) – Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) turned-in his best result in nearly two years Saturday, finishing 15th in a 15K freestyle World Cup race as he began the final preparation period leading to the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Vincent Vittoz of France, the 2005 World Championships pursuit gold medalist, and unheralded Swiss racer Toni Livers tied for the win in 35:48.8 each. Freeman finished in 37:06.5 with James Southam (Anchorage, AK) 51st and Andrew Johnson (Greensboro, VT) 60th.

Freeman, still adjusting after arriving in Europe a week ago, was up to seventh place at the 10K mark before fading a bit in the final 5K loop. He was 15th in another 15K FR in Lahti, Finland, in March 2005 after battling back from sickness at midseason.

World Cup leader Virpi Kuitunen of Finland won the women's 10K FR in bright sunshine with a time of 24:40.4. Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT), making her first World Cup start, finished 48th and Kikkan Randall (also Anchorage) was 51st.

The traditional visit to Davos concludes Sunday with relay races followed by a gap preceding the World Cup sprints and then another men's 15K and women's 10K freestyle Feb. 15-16 in Changchun, China. The championships will be Feb. 22-March 4 in Sapporo, Japan.

VIESSMANN CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CUP
Davos, SUI – Feb. 3, 2007
Men's 15K Freestyle
1. (tie) Vincent Vittoz, France, and Toni Livers, Switzerland, 35:48.8 each
3. Christian Hoffmann, Austria, 36:00.3
4. Tore Ruud Hofstad, Norway, 36:19.3
5. Remo Fischer, Switzerland, 36:31.4
–
15. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 37:06.5
51. James Southam, Anchorage, AK, 38:07.0
60. Andrew Johnson, Greensboro, VT, 38:29.7
—
Women's 10K FR
1. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland, 24:40.4
2. Olga Savialova, Russia, 24:52.4
3. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 24:58.1
4. Katerina Neumannova, Czech Republic, 24:58.7
5. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, 25:09.6
–
48. Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT, 27:28.6
51. Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, AK, 28:49.7