February 14, 2016 (Falun, SWE) – The USA’s Jessie Diggins is on fire skiing to a fourth-place finish, just off the podium, in the FIS World Cup women’s 10km FR mass start on Sunday for her second top-five performance of the weekend in Falun. Therese Johaug led a Norwegian podium sweep with Heidi Weng second at 8.8 seconds back and Astrid Jacobsen third. With her victory Johaug matched the great Bente Skari (2002/03) with 14 wins – only Marit Bjoergen has more with 17 wins during he 2011/12 season.

“I’m really proud of my race effort and the weekend as a whole – to have both a classic race and a skate race in the top five is encouraging before the Tour de Canada,” said Diggins.

 

It was a strong day for the U.S. women in a competitive freestyle mass start race as Liz Stephen found her groove once again, making bold moves throughout the race as she started 23rd and finished 14th. Caitlin Patterson from Anchorage, AK, who joined the U.S. Team on the World Cup circuit only a week ago, earned her first World Cup points finishing 25th overall.

“Today was a really good feeling to leave Europe on and take home with me to prepare for Canada,” said Stephen. “I had the best energy I have felt all year today.”

“With Caitlin earning these points, it now means seven U.S. women have been in the distance points this year, and that is something to get excited about,” said coach Matt Whitcomb. “Once you’re in the points, new horizons open.”

Diggins made big moves from the beginning to get where she wanted to be in the front pack. She moved tactically through the first two kilometers to secure a spot behind Johaug, Weng, and Jacobsen by 4k and was able to hold on until the finish.

“I really went for it and tried to keep up with the leaders for as long as I could, and I was just a few seconds off at the halfway point, but then the race started to catch up to me and I couldn’t hang on any longer,” said Diggins.

“We thought that Liz would be back to her usual speedy self again today and we’re happy to be right,” Whitcomb said. “I’m very encouraged with her result today, and mostly because she looked happy, snappy and engaged.”

Johaug was stoked to take yet another victory. “I wanted to push really hard from the beginning today and see how many were able to come with me.  In the end it was just Heidi and I pushed one more time going up the Mörderbacken because I didn’t want to have to be in a sprint at the finish.  It’s been an amazing season so far.  I really can’t believe I have won so many races.”

Canada’s Emily Nishikawa was 39th, Rosie Brennan (USA) was 48th, Ida Sargent (USA) was 67th, Andrea Dupont (CAN) was 69th and American Jennie Bender did not start.

“Today was one of the more exciting races of the year. Jessie was predictably on fire, and made a gutsy move over the top of the Mordarbakken at 2k to cover a 10-second gap that had opened up to the leaders. Jessie’s move to catch the leaders early in the race protected her from a charging chase pack that ended up seconds from her tails,” added Whitcomb.

Results here.