January 25, 2013 (Liberec, Czech Republic) – Canada’s Raphael Couturier, 19, was the top North American finishing 17th in the Junior men’s 20km Skiathlon (10kCL+10kFR) on Friday as Russia swept the men’s podium in nearly ideal race conditions.

Dmitry Rostovtsev took the gold with teammate Artem Maltsev claiming the silver while Alexey Chervotkin landed third on the podium. It was Couturier’s best result at the World Junior Championships.

“I knew there were fast skiers out there, but I felt really smooth in classic and I wasn’t nervous to be up front,” said Couturier from St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que. “Some people crashed pretty bad. I wanted to stay out of trouble in the classic and attack in the skate, and I did that. I am happy to have been able to stick with the plan.”

Kyle Bratrud from Eden Prairie, MN was the top American in 34th followed by Fairbanks, Alaska’s

Logan Hanneman in 39th. Also racing for Canada was David Palmer (46th) from Revelstoke, B.C., Alexis Turgeon (56th) from Gatineau, Que., Ezekial Williams (59th) from Cantley, Que., Forrest Mahlen (70th), with Tucker McCrerey in 71st.

In the women’s 10km race Vermont’s Heather Mooney lead the North American field in 26th with a time of 29:26.6 as Austria’s Teresa Stadlober claimed the gold in 27:13.0. Russia was on the podium again as Nadezhda Shuniaeva grabbed the silver 6s later followed by her teammate Alisa Zhambalova in third at 10.9 behind the winner.

The USA’s Sloan Storey from Ketchum, ID was just out of the points in 32nd followed by Canada’s Anne-Marie Comeau, also from St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que. in 34th with Mary O’Connell (Steamboat Springs, CO) in 35th, Corey Stock (Lincoln, MA) in 40th, Cendrine Browne (St-Jerome, Que.) in 43rd and Katherine Stewart-Jones, of Chelsea, Que., in 45th.

Men’s results HERE.
Women’s results HERE.