November 12, 2010 (Muonio, Finland) – It’s been snowing all day here in Muonio for the skate sprint races and it was a successful day for the U.S skiers. The prelims began at 9:30 am, just as the sun was rising. Kikkan Randall qualified 2nd and then went on to win the 1km final. Ida Sargent qualified 5th and skied through to a semi final round by way of lucky loser. Hannah Dreissigacker placed 41st, just out of the top 30 qualifiers, and many of the other US women expressed their enthusiasm about their individual results.

Check out this short video from the event

Likewise, the men had great results in their 1.4km sprints. Andy Newell qualified 2nd and then placed 4th in his quarter final, and a group of US men placed just out of the top 30 in the prelims. A handful of other US skiers, including Simi Hamilton, did not race the sprint today, but are planning on racing the distance races on Saturday and Sunday.

I spoke with a few skiers before the race to hear how they are enjoying their experience in Finland. Audrey Weber from Minnesota, racing for the first time in Scandinavia, commented on what it’s like to be competing against World Cup athletes from different countries, “I’ll admit that the first day here was a little intimidating skiing around so many top athletes. However, one of my main goals coming here is to get this type of exposure – high level racing and international competition. So I am very happy with the experience so far.”

Nick Michaud from the Maine Winter Sports Center was in Muonio last year for these races and said that the most significant difference this year is that “…there are more athletes signed up for the races.” Will Sweetser, the coach from Maine Winter Sports Center leading one of the three US trips here in Finland, mentioned that it’s great to have the US Ski Team at these races this year.

On Saturday there’s a 5.5km classic race for women and an 11km classic race for men. Sunday’s races will wrap up the weekend with an 11km skate race for both women and men. Finland is proving to be a great way to kick off the 2010-2011 winter ski season!

Results

Women’s and Men’s 1.0/1.4km Sprint Qualifications HERE.
Women’s and Men’s 1.0/1.4km Sprint Final HERE.

Qualifications

Women
1. Petra Majdic (SLO) 3:13.18
2. Kikkan Randall (USA) 3:14.24
3. Arianna Follis (ITA) 3:15.68
4. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) 3:16.63
5. Ida Sargent (USA) 3:17.43

41. Hannah Dreissigacker (USA) 3:31.01
89. Chelsea Little (USA) 3:48.42
92. Lauren Jacobs (USA) 3:49.44
101. Audrey Weber (USA) 3:52. 09

Men
1. Jaks Martin (CZE) 2:47.30
2. Andy Newell (USA) 2:47.67
3. Sergey Shiriaev (RUS) 2:48.61
4. Fulvio Scola (ITA) 2:49.23
5. Anssi Pentsinen (FIN) 2:49.42

53. Leif Orin Zimmermann (USA) 2:54.85
82. Tim Reynolds (USA) 2:58.56
86. Dylan McGuffin (USA) 2:59.44
114. Patrick O’Brien (USA) 3:02.88
117. Matthew Briggs (USA) 3:03.12
129. Oliver Burruss (USA) 3:05.06
146. Sam Tarling (USA) 3:07.69
165. Glenn Randall (USA) 3:12.83
172. Nick Michaud (USA) 3:14.61

Final

Women
1. Kikkan Randall (USA) 3:15.01
2. Petra Majdic (SLO) 3:15.84
3. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) 3:16.03
4. Arianna Follis (ITA) 3:16.44
5. Pirjo Muranen (FIN) 3:18.26

11. Ida Sargent (USA)
41. Hannah Dreissigacker (USA)
89. Chelsea Little (USA)
92. Lauren Jacobs (USA)
101. Audrey Weber (USA)

Men
1. Timo Simonlatser (EST) 2:53.86
2. Alexey Poltoranin (KAZ) 2:55.30
3. Peeter Kummel (EST) 2:56.14
4. Martin Jaks (CZE) 2:56.47
5. Alexey Moriakov (RUS) 2:56.57

16. Andy Newell (USA)
53. Leif Orin Zimmermann (USA)
82. Tim Reynolds (USA)
86. Dylan McGuffin (USA)
114. Patrick O’Brien (USA)
117. Matthew Briggs (USA)
129. Oliver Burruss (USA)
146. Sam Tarling (USA)
165. Glenn Randall (USA)
172. Nick Michaud (USA)