December 11, 2005 – It was the sprint race of the century for Canada’s Beckie Scott and Sara Renner who finished first and third respectively in the World Cup Sprint final. It was Scott’s first World Cup gold and Renner’s first World Cup bronze. Second place went to Gemany’s Claudia Kuenzel, while fourth and fifth places went to Germany’s Manuela Henkel and Norway’s Hilde Pedersen.

Renner and Pedersen had a photo finish in their semi-final round which was deemed a tie so both qualified to the final round.

During the news conference after the sprints, Scott and Renner declared that the World Cup races at Sovereign Lake exceeded their expectations and were a complete success, with superb organization. Both said it was inspiring to race at home and great to do well in front of a hometown crowd.

“This event will have immediate and lasting affect for Nordic skiing in Canada and North America,” said Scott. “Chandra Crawford placed 10th overall, and is on her way to qualifying for the Olympics,” said Renner, “Young skiers seeing this level of racing will be motivated to continue.”

Canada’s Chandra Crawford placed a fabulous second in her quarter final heat against Germany’s top skier Manuela Henkel. She advanced to the semi finals but crashed trying to pass another skier and finished 10th in the final standings. Canada’s Milaine Theriault finished in 25th.

USA’s Wendy Wagner skied well in her quarter final round and placed a close third but did not advance and finished 21st overall, a great result in a field of 60 starters.

 World Cup Sprint Final – Women’s Results

1 SCOTT Beckie  CAN 
 2 KUENZEL Claudia  GER 
 3 RENNER Sara  CAN 
 4 HENKEL Manuela  GER 
 5 PEDERSEN Hilde G.  NOR 
 6 BJOERGEN Marit  NOR 
 7 DAHLBERG Anna  SWE 
 8 ROCHAT Laurence  SUI 
 9 FOLLIS Arianna  ITA 
 10 CRAWFORD Chandra  CAN 
 11 SACHENBACHER STEHLE Evi  GER 
 12 GJOEMLE Ella  NOR 
 13 ROTCHEVA Olga  RUS 
 14 ANDERSSON Lina  SWE 
 15 KOROSTELEVA Natalia  RUS 
 16 TCHEPALOVA Julija  RUS 
 17 BOEHLER Stefanie  GER 
 18 NORGREN Britta  SWE 
 19 BAUER Viola  GER 
 20 NAGEJKINA Svetlana  RUS 
 21 WAGNER Wendy Kay  USA 
 22 ROCHEVA Olga  RUS 
 23 FUKUDA Nobuko  JPN 
 24 SKOFTERUD Vibeke W  NOR 
 25 THERIAULT Milaine  CAN 
 26 NATSUMI Madoka  JPN 
 27 MAJDIC Petra  SLO 
 28 MORODER Karin  ITA 
 29 FABJAN Vesna  SLO 
 30 MISCHOL Seraina  SUI 
 31 WILLIAMS Lindsey  USA 
 32 VALBUSA Sabina  ITA 
 33 PARUZZI Gabriella  ITA 
 34 JONES Perianne  CAN 
 35 BOTTOMLEY Esther  AUS 
 36 LOPATINA Viktoria  BLR 
 37 WHITTEN Tara  CAN 
 38 MUERER STEMLAND Kristin  NOR 
 39 SOLLI Guro Stroem  NOR 
 40 BACHMANN Flurina  SUI 
 41 SWANSON Shayla  CAN 
 42 DUSSAULT Rebecca  USA 
 43 KOLOMINA Elena  KAZ 
 44 OEHRSTIG Emelie  SWE 
 45 BISSON Christine  CAN 
 46 JATSKAJA Oxana  KAZ 
 47 MALAHOVA-SHISHKINA Svetlana  KAZ 
 48 SOKLIC Mirjam  SLO 
 49 VINA Emilie  FRA 
 50 WHITCOMB Kate  USA 
 51 BETCHERMAN Tasha  CAN 
 52 SCALLION Margret  CAN 
 53 WEIER Lindsey  USA 
 54 LARSON Abigail  USA 
 55 FABIUS Kerrie  CAN