March 8, 2003 (Holmenkollen, Norway) – National Cross Country Ski Team member Sara Renner closed her final long-distance World Cup event of the season with a 16th place in this morning's epic 30 km classic cross-country ski race held just outside Oslo, in Holmenkollen, Norway.

Today's women's race was won by the invincible Norwegian Bente Skari, Skari dominated by over 2 minutes to capture her 13th win of the year in front of thousands of cheering fans in an incredible final time of 1:21:45.4. Second place went to Finland's Annmari Viljanmea in 1:23:52.8. This is Viljanmea's first world cup medal, and she is currently ranked 18th in the standings. The bronze went to Viljanmea's teammate and another new podium finisher, Aino Kaisa Saarinen. The 24 year-old Finn crossed the line in 1:24:51.9.

Canmore, Alberta's Renner, who placed 13th in the 30 km freestyle race in Val di Fiemme, Italy on February 28th, was officially named to the red group after the World Championships ended last weekend. The 26 year-old has been steadily climbing the results list all season long and now joins fellow teammate Beckie Scott among the top-30 cross country skiers in the world. Renner's final time today was 1:27:38.5. Scott did not start this morning due to a cold.

In the men's 50 km classic, Estonia's Andrus Veerpalu took home his second world cup gold medal of the season when he finished the grueling course in an impressive 2:16:57.5. The silver went to Norway's Anders Aukland, in 2:17:32.3. Currently ranked 7th in the world cup standings, the 30 year-old Oseberg-native collected his third world cup medal this morning. The surprise bronze-medalist was Russia's Andrei Noutrikhine. Currently ranked 30th in the standings, this is his first time on the world cup podium. Noutrikhine's final time was 2:18:15.9. Canadian teammembers Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Quebec, and George Grey, of Rossland, B.C, finished 45th and 50th respectively.

The World Cup circuit moves to Lahti, Finland for the 10/15 km freestyle races on March 16th.

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 1:21:45.4
2) Annmari Viljanmaa FIN 1:23:52.8
3) Aino Kaisa Saarinen FIN 1:24:51.9
4) Petra Majdic SLO 1:25:01.7
5) Virpi Kuitunen FIN 1:25:08.5
6) Evi Sachenbacher GER 1:25:34.7
7) Kristina Smigun EST 1:25:55.6
8) Ine Wigernaes NOR 1:36:34.9
9) Gabriella Paruzzi ITA 1:26:42.4
10) Viola Bauer GER 1:26:44.4

Canadian
16) Sara Renner CAN 1:27:38.5

Men
1) Andrus Veerpalu EST 2:16:57.5
2) Anders Aukland NOR 2:17:32.3
3) Andrei Noutrikhine RUS 2:18:15.9
4) Mathias Fredriksson SWE 2:18:17.3
5) Giorgio Di Centa ITA 2:18:49.1
6) Frode Estil NOR 2:20:03.0
7) Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset NOR 2:20:31.1
8) Kristen Skjeldad NOR 2:20:46.9
9) Jaak Mae EST 2:21:02.6
10) Thomas Alsgaard NOR 2:21:22.9

Canadians
45) Chris Jeffries CAN 2:31:38.6
50) George Grey CAN 2:34:31.5

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