January 29, 2014 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – The excellent conditions continued in Val di Fiemme for the first race of the World Junior Championships, the Junior Women’s and Men’s 1.2/1.5km free sprints.

USA's Cole Morgan (black kit) in action © flyingpointroad.com

Junior Women 1.2km FR
Top qualifier, Sweden’s Jonna Sundling (SWE) also took the overall win, but the North American women also had strong showings, qualifying three skiers for the heats.

Katherine Stewart-Jones led the Canadian team with an 18th place finish in a tightly contested battle. Sophie Carrier-Laforte (CAN) was 22nd and Dahria Beatty (CAN) finished 27th. For the USA Stephanie Kirk finished 36th and Marion Woods was 51st, while Canada’s Anne-Marie Comeau placed 52nd, American Sloan Storey placed 54th, and Nichole Bath (USA) finished 58th, all missed advancing to the heats.

In the final, Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich (SUI) scored the silver medal behind winner Sundling. Russia’s Yulia Belorukova (RUS) finished third.

Junior Men 1.5km FR
In the men’s qualifications, France’s Lucas Chanavat (FRA) set the fastest time. USA’s Cole Morgan (USA) was the top North American, qualifying 14th and moving on to the heats. Cole finished fourth in his quarterfinal and did not advance to the semis.

His teammate Patrick Caldwell (USA) finished 39th, followed by Angus Foster (CAN) in 45th, Scott Hill (CAN) 50th, Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier (CAN) tied for 51st, John Heggman finished (USA) 53rd, Thomas O’Harra (USA) tied for 54th, and Ben Wilkinson-Zan (CAN) was 64th.

In the final, second-place qualifier France’s Jean Tiberghien (FRA) scored the gold, while Oskar Svensson (SWE) and Joni Maki (FIN) won silver and bronze, respectively.

Women’s Qualifications here
Women’s Final results here

Men’s Qualifications here
Men’s Final results here

About NNF
The mission of the National Nordic Foundation (NNF) is to provide support for the athlete development pipeline of US Cross Country and Nordic Combined skiing. The NNF accomplishes this development goal through raising funds and distribution to our “Pillar Projects” that serve the next generation of athletes who represent the United States on the World Stage. For more information about out Pillar Projects, click here.