Perianne Jones © Yngve Johansson, Imega Promotion

November 22, 2014 (Gallivare, Sweden) – Canada’s Perianne Jones earned her first FIS victory in the women’s 1.2km CL sprint today to kick off her season while Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov pipped fellow Canuck Alex Harvey with a photo finish in the Men’s A 1.4km Final at the SportEvent Gällivare Lapland races this weekend.

There were three Canadians in the men’s final as Len Valjas finished fourth with Jesse Cockney 6th. Temperatures were just a bit below zero and the skies were clear. While the fields were small it was as good start for Team Canada.

(l-r) Valjas, Belov, Volzhentsev, Harvey, Ustiugov © Yngve Johansson, Imega Promotion

Jones qualified 2nd behind Czech skier Petra Novakova but turned on the burners to dominate the women’s final leading from start to finish with Novakova 2nd and her teammate Karolina Grohova. Junior Emma Ribom from Sweden, who took two wins in Muonio last weekend, finished fourth. “This was my first race of the season-other than Frozen Thunder,” said Jones. “It was a fun day.”

Perianne Jones © Yngve Johansson, Imega Promotion

Top qualifier Ustiugov, who won the U23 World Cup sprint title last winter, drove it home in the finale just edging out Harvey as his Russian teammate, Evgeny Belov, 2nd in the qualifications, showed his form as well claiming third. “This is good proof that my training and condition is on track,” said Ustiugov after the final.

Cockney behind Ustiugov © Yngve Johansson, Imega Promotion

“It was a good start for me. You’re never sure where you stand until you have your name on a result list,” commented Harvey. “So now I know and I’m happy with it. Ustiugov has been a steady top 5-10 qualifier last year on the World Cup so I think I’m in the mix right now. I felt better and better as the rounds proceeded, so that’s good to see as well.”

Canada’s Devon Kershaw did not start along with Lukas Bauer (Cze), who has been sick earlier this week, including local Swedish star Marcus Hellner who opted out of the sprint for Sunday’s 15km CL. Hellner will only contest next weekend’s distance race as well while Kershaw is slated to race both WCup starts in Finland.

(l-r) Harvey, Cockney, Valjas © CCC

Conditions are perfect in Gallivare according to Canadian head coach Justin Wadsworth and these races are a great lead up to next weekend’s FIS World Cup start in Kuusamo, Finland – check out our interview with Wadsworth here.

Read more about SportEvent Gällivare Lapland here.

Results

Men’s A-Final

1. Sergey Ustiugov (Rus) 2:38,55
2. Alex Harvey (Can) 2:39,52
3. Evgenij Belov (Rus) 2:39,54
4. Len Valjas (Can) 2:39,57
5. Stanislav Volzhentsev (Rus) 2:42,44
6. Jesse Cockney (Can) 2:44,70

Women’s A-Final

1. Perianne Jones (Can) 2:54,19
2. Petra Novakova (Cze) 2:55,99
3. Karolina Grohova (Cze) 2:56,99
4. Emma Ribom (Swe) 2:58,28
5. Anna Svendsen (Nor) 3:00,08
6. Nelly Johansson (Swe) 3:05,19

Qualifications here
Women’s final results here.
Men’s final results here