Friday, February 21, 2003 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – Young American cross-country ski racer Kris Freeman was 2 seconds from the bronze medal and 11 seconds from gold today as he soared to an incredible fourth place in the men's 15 km classic event on Friday morning at the World Nordic Ski Championships held in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

The American Olympian is participating in his first World Championships this year, after successive wins on the Subaru Continental Cup series in North America and a gold medal at the Under-23 World Championship 30 km classic race held in Bormio, Italy earlier this month. Freeman's time of 35:58.1 was just shy of bronze medallist Frode Estil of Norway who finished in 35:56.0. The silver went to Estonia's Jaak Mae in 35:54.4 and gold was picked up by Germany's Axel Teichmann, who crossed the line in 35:47.5.

The top Canadian today was Rossland, B.C's George Grey, who finished 39th in 38:03.0. Grey, a member of Team 2006 and one of Canada's best up-and-coming racers, held on to follow behind Teichmann for over 6 km before the gold medallist broke free and eventually won the race. Grey's teammates Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Quebec, came in 54th in 39:09.2, Drew Goldsack of Red Deer, Alberta, came in 58th in 39:22.3, and Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ontario, came in 62nd in 39:57.3. There were 87 finishers in today’s event.

The World Nordic Ski Championships continues with the women's double pursuit race.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision: “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association’s focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.

Results:
1) Axel Teichmann          GER     35:47.5
2) Jaak Mae          EST     35:54.4
3) Frode Estil          NOR     35:56.0
4) Kris Freeman           USA     35:58.1
5) Andreas Schluetter     GER     36:00.4
6) Ivan Batory          SVK     36:05.1
7) Mathias Fredriksson     SWE     36:08.9
8) Andrus Veerpalu     EST     36:10.6
9) Vitaly Denisov          RUS     36:13.2
10) Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset     NOR     36:14.2

Canadians:
39) George Grey          CAN     38:19.6
54) Chris Jeffries          CAN     39:09.2
58) Drew Goldsack          CAN     39:22.3
62) Devon Kershaw          CAN     39:57.3

For complete race results: www.fis-ski.com.

Friday, February 21, 2003 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – Young American cross-country ski racer Kris Freeman was 2 seconds from the bronze medal and 11 seconds from gold today as he soared to an incredible fourth place in the men's 15 km classic event on Friday morning at the World Nordic Ski Championships held in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

The American Olympian is participating in his first World Championships this year, after successive wins on the Subaru Continental Cup series in North America and a gold medal at the Under-23 World Championship 30 km classic race held in Bormio, Italy earlier this month. Freeman's time of 35:58.1 was just shy of bronze medallist Frode Estil of Norway who finished in 35:56.0. The silver went to Estonia's Jaak Mae in 35:54.4 and gold was picked up by Germany's Axel Teichmann, who crossed the line in 35:47.5.

The top Canadian today was Rossland, B.C's George Grey, who finished 39th in 38:03.0. Grey, a member of Team 2006 and one of Canada's best up-and-coming racers, held on to follow behind Teichmann for over 6 km before the gold medallist broke free and eventually won the race. Grey's teammates Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Quebec, came in 54th in 39:09.2, Drew Goldsack of Red Deer, Alberta, came in 58th in 39:22.3, and Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ontario, came in 62nd in 39:57.3. There were 87 finishers in today’s event.

The World Nordic Ski Championships continues with the women's double pursuit race.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision: “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association’s focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.

Results:
1) Axel Teichmann          GER     35:47.5
2) Jaak Mae          EST     35:54.4
3) Frode Estil          NOR     35:56.0
4) Kris Freeman           USA     35:58.1
5) Andreas Schluetter     GER     36:00.4
6) Ivan Batory          SVK     36:05.1
7) Mathias Fredriksson     SWE     36:08.9
8) Andrus Veerpalu     EST     36:10.6
9) Vitaly Denisov          RUS     36:13.2
10) Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset     NOR     36:14.2

Canadians:
39) George Grey          CAN     38:19.6
54) Chris Jeffries          CAN     39:09.2
58) Drew Goldsack          CAN     39:22.3
62) Devon Kershaw          CAN     39:57.3

For complete race results: www.fis-ski.com.