KUUSAMO, Finland (Dec. 1) – Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT), sidestepping high-speed trouble, picked off his first World Cup top-5 of the season Saturday, finishing fourth in a 1.2K classic technique sprint.
“I'm happy, but it was just one of those days where I felt good enough and should have been on the podium. It's one thing to get fourth and you feel you could've been 15th, but today I should've been on the podium,” the no-excuses Vermonter said.
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<p>Johan Kjoelstad of Norway led the six-man final heat for the third win of his career with Newell not far behind. Newell survived a tricky moment on the final uphill, he said, as two skiers – tired from charging the hill in the prologue and a couple of finals heats – blocked his way. Newell changed lanes twice, but he lost time on the three leaders.</p>
<p>“I almost went into the woods on the downhill. I was taking a very aggressive line around a fast corner, trying to lock into the track on the corner and the G forces almost threw me into the woods,” he said. “Overall, I'd give myself an A-minus for the day. I'm feeling strong, feeling like my classic sprinting is where it needs to be.”</p>
<p>Said Kjoelstad, “It was an amazing day! My last time on the podium was in Nove Mesto 2005 — so today is like my birthday. I was not so fast at the start and in the uphill I was just skiing behind Emil, I had a good speed there and saw that Emil was getting tired. I will be going to Rybinsk and then my dream is to ski the Tour de Ski. If I couldn’t manage the qualification I will try to be in top shape for the races in Canada.”</p>
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Newell 4th, Randall 16th in World Cup Sprint
Sources: USSA, FIS, Fischer Skis
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