February 16, 2007 (Changchun, China) – Kris Freeman (Andover, NH), continuing to build steam as a lead-up to the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships next week, was 10th today – his best World Cup result in three years – in a 15K freestyle race.

Defending World Cup champion Tobias Angerer of Germany won with a time of 37:05.8 as he tore through the second lap. Second place went to Vincent Vittoz of France, the defending pursuit world champion; his time was 37:15.1.

Freeman, who was sixth and then fifth in two World Cup races in December 2003 – and 15th nearly two weeks ago in Davos, Switzerland, in another 15K FR, was 14th at the 2K mark and moved up to eighth at 9.4 Ks before finishing in 38:15.3. He was the only U.S. skier competing in the sunny, 32-degree weather.

Czech Katerina Neumannova won the women’s 10K in 25:21.2, more than a minute ahead of Karine Philpott of France. No U.S. women raced.

The World Championships open Feb. 22 with classic technique sprints.

VIESSMAN CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CUP
Changchun, CHN – Feb. 16, 2007

Men’s 15K Freestyle

1. Tobias Angerer, Germany, 37:05.8
2. Vincent Vittoz, France, 37:05.15.1
3. Emmanuel Jonnier, France, 27:05.17.1
4. Sergei Siriaev, Russia, 37:21.9
5. Petter Northug, Norway, 37:32.5
–
10. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 38:15.3
—
Women’s 10K FR
1. Katerina neumannova, Czech Republic, 25:21.2
2. Karine Philpott, France, 26:29.7
3. Svetlana Malahova, Kazakhstan, 26:51.6
4. Yuanyuan Liu, China, 26:56.7
5. Alena Sidko, Russia, 27:02.5
(No Americans raced)

For complete results:
<http://fanmail.ussa.org/ct/ct.php?t=1836435&c=940430933&m=m&type=1&h=B4FC9E0562226CE1385CD00C6F29EB94>http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?cal_suchsector=CC&event_id=22302