March 20, 2003 (Borlange, Sweden) – Canadian National Cross Country ski team member Beckie Scott got her hands on a well-deserved silver medal yesterday evening as the last sprint world cup race got underway in Borlange, Sweden.

In the women's A-finals, Norway's Bente Skari just narrowly crossed the line before Scott, who was quickly gaining on the Norwegian down the final stretch. Skari's younger teammate, 22-year old Marit Bjoergen, posed no threat for the top two spots, as she took the bronze just ahead of Germany's Claudia Kuenzel.

After qualifying 9th in the early morning qualifications, Scott was not willing to settle for another near-podium finish in the final rounds. The 28-year old Olympic medallist had been heart-wrenchingly close to the podium at last month's World Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy, and has been more recently nursing a lingering-cold. This season's results continue to prove Scott is a serious contender for the top spot on the world cup podium, even if today's placing came as somewhat of a surprise for the Vermillion-native.

“Initially, I was not sure how it would go,” says Scott over the phone from Sweden. “I was a bit stiff in the qualifications, so I just decided to go as far as I could in the final heats. I needed to be tactical, because the course was really flat. I hung back in 3rd for awhile, and then went for it on the final straight-away. I said to myself before the final heat that I was not going home with another 4th!”

This is Scott's fourth world cup medal this year, and her best sprint result of the season.

Teammate Sara Renner also had a stellar day on the ski track. After the early afternoon qualifications, the Canmore-native placed two positions ahead of Scott in 7th spot. After the final heats got underway in the evening, Renner finished 9th, just ahead of Olympic medallist and powerhouse Norwegian sprinter Anita Moen. The twenty six year old Albertan, who also has a 9th place result in the same event at last year's Olympic Winter Games, is continuing to climb the results list this season and has recently achieved red-group international status.

Head coach Dave Wood is thrilled with his athletes' results today. “It was a super-good day,” exclaims Wood. “We are finishing the season just incredibly. This Saturday's pursuit race is definitely looking good.”

On the men's side, Sweden is celebrating its two top podium finishes in the men's A-final. Twenty-eight year old Tobias Fredriksson took home his eighth world cup medal of the year when he crossed the line first, followed by teammate Peter Larsson, who captured his first silver world cup medal. Italian speedster Cristian Zorzi was left with the bronze, while Gemany's Dirk Klessen just missed the podium. Canadian Team 2006 member George Grey finished 64th in the preliminaries.

The world cup series continues from Falun, Sweden with the pursuit race on Saturday.

The Canadian Senior National Cross Country Ski Team is supported in their international racing pursuits by Haywood Securities.

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:
Women
1) Bente Skari NOR
2) Beckie Scott CAN
3) Marit Bjoergen NOR
4) Claudia Kuenzel GER
5) Pirjo Manninen FIN
6) Vibeke Skofterud NOR
7) Hilde Pedersen NOR
8) Natalia Korosteleva RUS
9) Sara Renner CAN
10) Anita Moen NOR

Men
1) Tobias Fredriksson SWE
2) Peter Larsson SWE
3) Cristian Zorzi ITA
4) Dirk Klessen GER
5) Haavard Bjerkeli NOR
6) Tor Arne Hetland NOR
7) Joergen Brink SWE
8) Marko Kinnunen FIN
9) Keijo Kurttila FIN
10) Bjoern Lind SWE

Canadian
64) George Grey CAN

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