Weekly Roundup: A Crystal Globe, NCAAs and More from Sochi

The women's Lahti sprint podium: 1. Kikkan Randall (USA), 2. Marit Bjørgen (NOR), 3. Alena Prochazkova (SVK). Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus. — With her victory over Marit Bjoergen in the freestyle sprint in Lahti, Finland, over the weekend, Kikkan Randall secured the overall World Cup sprint title for her second year in a row. Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus.

With only a few weeks left of racing across the nordic sports at each competitive level, the season is beginning to show distinct signs of drawing to a close. Most notably, Kikkan Randall (USA) won her one and only shot at a freestyle sprint duel with Marit Bjørgen (NOR) in Lahti, Finland, and in the process locked down the sprint crystal globe a full three competitions before the end of the season. Emil Joensson (SWE) did the same with his victory in the men’s sprint, while Lenny Valjas (CAN) came back from illness with an eighth-place showing and Sadie Bjornsen (USA) turned in her first career top-10. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) and Petter Northug (NOR) were back on top in the individual classic races the next day, and from Lahti the World Cup moved to Norway for the last regular-season World Cup before the Finals in Sweden.

In the U.S., the Division 1 college season wrapped up at NCAA Championships hosted by Middlebury College, where the University of Colorado reclaimed the team title it lost in 2012 with the help of Joanne Reid‘s victory in the 15 k freestyle and Rune Oedegaard‘s win two days prior in the 10 k classic. Miles Havlick (Univeristy of Utah) won his second-straight individual title in a hotly-contested men’s 20 k and Anja Gruber (University of Vermont) cleaned up in the women’s 5 k classic.

The biathlon World Cup moved to Sochi, Russia, this weekend for a set of Olympic test events at the new biathlon stadium. Martin Fourcade (FRA) began as he frequently does with a win in the 20 k individual and the 10 k sprint, while Tim Burke (USA) posted another top-five and the U.S. had a banner day with Susan Dunklee‘s seventh and Annelies Cook‘s personal-best 14th. In the relay, the Russian men delivered a home-course victory in front of a tough crowd and the German women triumphed under a unique set of circumstances.

The nordic combined World Cup was also in Lahti this weekend. Germany’s Eric Frenzel won Friday’s Gundersen competition and then matched up with teammate Johannes Rydzek to take victory in the team sprint on Saturday.

Marathon action continued in Switzerland on Sunday with the Engadin Ski Marathon. Frenchman Pierre Guedon won a sprint finish with Italy’s Christian Zorzi, finishing the 42 k in 1:28.19.6. Finnish national-team member Riita-Liisa Roponen won the women’s race in 1:29.52.3, beating Swiss runner-up Seraina Boner by 2 minutes and 12 seconds.

Below are links to our coverage and results from throughout the weekend.

Cross Country World Cup — Lahti, Finland

Freestyle Sprint

Men: Report | Canada | Results

Women: Report | U.S. | Results

5/10 k Individual Classic

Men: Report | U.S. | Results

Women: Report | U.S. & Canada | Results

NCAA Skiing Championships — Middlebury, Vermont

Preview | Rikert’s Reconfiguration

5/10 k Individual Classic

Men: Report | Photo Gallery | Results