Liz Stephen’s performance undoubtedly headlined the day for the Americans in the women's 10 k, but further down on the results her teammates felt only “not great” to “satisfied” about their top-30s. Jessie Diggins placed 23rd, Holly Brooks finished 27th and Kikkan Randall was 30th. Still, they expect to feel fully recovered for the 4x5 k relay.
Demonstrating once again the power of a goal and unwavering belief in it, Stephen achieved exactly what she set out to do on Tuesday in the World Championships 10 k individual freestyle by finishing fifth, a career-best. "I'm pretty ecstatic," Stephen said. "I'm so lucky to be part of something so big right now."
Marit Bjørgen of Norway and Nikita Kriukov of Russia both have two gold medals to their names so far this Championships, and Dario Cologna finally got the title he's been search for; but Americans made a splash too, in every discipline, with Sarah Hendrickson winning jumping, Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins the team sprint, and the nordic combined team bronze in the team event. Alex Harvey also made history when he took bronze in the classic sprint, the first individual World Champs medal for Canada.
The U.S. Nordic Combined team of Taylor Fletcher, Bryan Fletcher, Todd Lodwick and Billy Demong rose to bronze on Sunday for a historic World Championships medal in a team event. Relieved and excited, they also had a lot of fun.
After a not-so-hot day on the normal hill in Predazzo, the U.S. Nordic Combined Team relied on Bryan Fletcher to capture a top 15, which he did in 14th, while Demong settled for 23rd, Taylor Fletcher was 25th and Todd Lodwick placed 35th.
The classic sprint at the 2013 World Championships was preceded by promise and excitement for the Americans, but when only three out of seven starters advanced to the heats on Thursday and none moved past the quarterfinals the team was left feeling frustrated by slippery skis. Kikkan Randall and Sophie Caldwell each finished fourth in their quarterfinals to place 19th and 20th, respectively, and Andy Newell was 21st after placing fifth in his heat.
Where Sophie Caldwell lacks in international experience she made up for in poise, adaptability and sheer speed on Thursday in the World Championships classic sprint. After “squeaking” into 30th by 0.12 seconds in the qualifier she raced as if she belonged in the heats, placing fourth in the quarters to finish 20th overall.
WIth a more experienced team than they've had before the Americans are approaching the next six races at World Championships more calmly than they have in recent years. On the eve of the classic sprint Kikkan Randall said she wants to perform well on Thursday, "but there’s not really big expectations on it. I’m feeling excited to race and see what’s in the tank."
Noah Hoffman led the U.S. men in 33rd place in the Davos 15k, the best of a series of sub-par performances. But there is no panic with World Champs just days away.
Jessie Diggins finished 14th, leading a trio of U.S. women in the top-20 in the final World Cup race before World Championships.
US Ski Team member Andy Newell came one step closer to a World Cup podium on Saturday, placing fourth in the 1.5 k classic sprint in Davos, Switzerland. While he was 3 seconds off the mark, Newell isn't too worried: he's still got World Championships and an overall sprint title to chase. Teammate Simi Hamilton notched a season best of 13th, and Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess and Erik Bjornsen learned some lessons.
Kikkan Randall was eighth to pace three American women to the top 30 in classic sprint in Davos, Switzerland, on Saturday. "It’s the kind of day we wanted to have before going to world championships," said USST women's coach Matt Whitcomb.
Kris Freeman was ready for the Tour to be over sooner than he could get out of Europe. Afterward, the US Ski Team veteran headed home, where he spent a full week recovering then building back up to normal. Before picking things up again in Davos, Switzerland, Freeman won two domestic marathons and is feeling primed for the World Cup and World Championships.
In a season of lackluster results thus far, Simi Hamilton's performance in the team sprint in Sochi, Russia, on Sunday is especially notable. Andy Newell's fall in the last lap left the Americans disappointed, yes, but Hamilton was "stoked" to ski the second-fastest third round of the entire field.
Skiers and jumpers tested out the Sochi trails - quite successfully for the U.S. and Canada; biathletes finished up World Youth and Junior Championships with another medal for Sean Doherty and two Canadian top-tens; Americans turned to longer marathon racing at the Boulder Mountain Tour and Craftsbury Marathon; Canadians mini-toured through Eastern Championships.
In a continued demonstration of the depth on the American women's squad, Ida Sargent and Sadie Bjornsen improved upon their team sprint from Liberec with a fifth place showing in Sochi, Russia, on Friday. They were three seconds off the podium and will leave the Olympic venue on a high note.
The U.S. team of Andy Newell and Simi Hamilton had a strong day in Sochi, winning their team sprint semi-final, before just missing out on 4th place after a late crash.
Liz Stephen was eighth in the 15 k skiathlon in Sochi, Russia, on Saturday. It was the best regular-season result of her life, but she wasn't quite happy with it. She wants a World Cup podium, and at 25 seconds out of third on the grueling Olympic course she's getting oh-so-close.
Be grateful it wasn’t you weren’t crouched on top of the ski jump in Sochi, Russia, on Saturday fighting for a starting place in the 10 kilometer skate race to follow. Chances are, your nerve would have abandoned you. Brothers Bryan and Taylor Fletcher have no such reservations. Although even they admit the conditions for jumping today were rather unnerving. “The jumping today was really foggy,” Bryan Fletcher said. “Its was definitely a challenge to...
Sixteen youth, junior, and U23 World Championship races, SuperTour Tours, NorAms that served as the last selection races for Canada's World Champs team, nordic combined in Germany, two college series - it was another busy weekend in the nordic world. Here's everything you need to know.