February 15, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – They were scared of her, and rightly so.Sweden’s Charl
The day started out at -1degC, overcast with old, fast snow. But by the time the tenth racer started, the sun was beginning to shine. The question was: Would all 78 skiers be through the course before warmer, slower conditions set in? It didn’t seem to bother Kalla, who started with bib #31. She traded the lead with Smigun-Vaehi, who started with bib# 17, so she had no split information on Kalla to know if she had to go faster. Sweden also took fourth place as Anna Haag was in 20.9 seconds behind her teammate, while Justyna Kowalcyk (POL), who was highly critical of the course and the grooming, placed 5th 21.7 seconds back.
“My race plan was to go hard from the beginning,” said Kalla, but added, “It hasn’t hit me yet that we’re at the Olympics. It’s so crazy right now.”
Smigun-Vaehi agreed with the North American skiers that the course was fast. The sun had yet to soften the trails, except in the corners. She also felt a bit hunted. “Everybody was after me. It was very difficult. I had no information.”
Bronze medalist Bjoergen said she didn’t feel well during the first lap of the 5km circuit. “I think the body was a bit nervous. It’s very good for me. It has been a long time since I was on the podium. It’s a good beginning. I dream about gold, so hopefully I can get a gold.”
The top North American was Team USA’s Caitlin Compton, in 30th at 1:50.7; teammate Holly Brooks was 42nd at 2:19.2; Elizabeth Stephen took 51st place at 2:42.7 back while Canada’s lone skier, Madeleine Williams followed her in 52nd at 2:45.2 behind.
Compton started the race as #55 and happened to be starting the course as the top skiers were commencing their second laps. She said, while the course held up well the corners were deep and soft and needed to be skied carefully. “On my first lap we came to a big downhill and I see an Olympic gold medalist ahead of me going into a snowplow. The corner was kind of out of control, but you would hate to lose a gold medal with falling on something like that.”
“It was a blast holding onto these great skiers as long as I could. I don’t think there’s anything better than following a gold medalist. I am happy with 30th; the bar is set so high here. My finish was not spectacular but solid. We are going to meet expectations all this week and for the next four years.”
Arritola said it was “…great to get one race under our belt. The conditions here are always different, so we have to be ready for everything. The corners were soft, but the track froze last night, so it was hard. I’m looking forward to the 15km pursuit.”
Stephen agreed with her teammate that it was a fast track, but the corners were choppy. “The energy at the Olympics is awesome. It wasn’t really the result I was hoping for, but I completed my first Olympic race. Now I’m better prepared for the next one.” Stephen said she wore her “race socks and underwear” because she’s a little superstitious about such things, though she had to wear the gloves the USOC issued.
Brooks commented that she chose, “…a fairly conservative start. I wanted to be able to kind of hold it and keep a steady pace for the second lap. The conditions were a happy medium. They weren’t like yesterday [during training] when they were rock hard or last week when it was deep sugar.”
Canada’s Williams added, “I was able to push at the end and now have one race behind me. I was hoping for a better time, but my time behind the winner is faster than it was last week at the World Cup and I am happy with that.”
Full results here.
Results (brief)
1. Charlotte Kalla (SWE) 24:58.4
2. Kristina Smigun-Vaehi (EST) +6.6
3. Marit Bjoergen (NOR) +15.9
30. Caitlin Compton (USA) +1:50.7
34. Morgan Arritola (USA) +2:06.0
42. Holly Brooks (USA) +2:19.2
50. Liz Stephen (USA) +2:42.7
51. Madeleine Williams (CAN) +2:45.2