March 14, 2012 (Stockholm, Sweden) – Kikkan Randall was hoping to challenge for her first classic sprint podium at the final sprint of the season in Stockholm, around Sweden’s Royal Palace, but the 2012 Sprint Cup winner was knocked out in her semi and finished eighth overall as Norwegian star Marit Bjoergen laid down another top performance for the gold.

“I looked at today as another opportunity to have a good sprint result,” Randall confided to SkiTrax. “I am still chasing after a podium in classic sprinting and that is what I was shooting for today. It was helpful to have already wrapped up the sprint title leading into today just so that I could focus on my performance without the added pressure of the overall.  The other day in Drammen was much more emotional and I think Sunday when I get presented the globe will be as well!”

Joining Bjoergen on podium was Russia’s Julia Ivanova who skied a spirited final challenging Bjoergen, while Maiken Caspersen Falla gave the Norges the final spot as Sweden’s top sprinters were shut out – Charlotte Kalla was 4th, Ida Ingemarsdotter was 10th, Hanna Brodin finished 17th, and Anna Haag was 29th.

Randall, ever the optimist, put things in perpective given her stellar season as she also sits fourth in the World Cup overall standings with two skate races and one classic race left on the calendar.

“My first impressions of my day were disappointment for not making the final. Yet when I take a step back, 8th today is a new personal best for the Stockholm sprint and especially considering that there were a couple years when I didn’t even make the top 30 here, it’s still a step in the right direction,” Randall continued.

“I’ve been spoiled by podiums and final appearances in classic this season and now that is what I want every race. I’ve come a long way this season but I still need to be patient.”

Pundits were expecting a slug-out match-up between Bjoergen and Justyna Kowalczyk but the Polish superstar took a spill in the final round and could not catch on again. Bjoergen has all but sealed up the overall title with only three races to go – the points are there for the taking and the ball is in Kowalczyk’s court.

Kalla made some headway in her chase to catch Randall in 4th in the overall WCup standings but the American is still bullish on her chances to hold her own and keep Kalla at bay.

“Yeah, she’s putting up one heck of a fight! My strategy for the freestyle Prologue on Friday is to just go for it. I’m excited that it’s a skate Prologue this year after two previous years of classic as I think skating suits me better on these courses. I want to go into these final three races ready to ski aggressively and use up whatever is left in the tank,” added Randall.

Meanwhile the Canadians qualified three skiers as Chandra Crawford and Daria Gaiazova continue to impress with their classic skiing. They were joined by fellow Canuck Alyson Marshall, who had a breakthrough sprint, making the heats for a personal best qualifying in 29th.

“I am really happy that I finally made it into the top-30! We had great skis. I got a cold on the weekend and didn’t do any training on Monday or Tuesday so I wasn’t sure how my body was going to respond in the sprint,” Marshall told SkiTrax. “Luckily it was a short course and I was able to keep my speed up in the qualifier. I died in on the last hill in my quarter-final but it was still fun to race against some fast girls. Stockholm was amazing, it was fun to race in front of the Palace and I really like the city.

Gaiazova drew a very tough heat against Bjoergen and Kowalczyk and was eliminated finishing 12th overall as Marshall was also dispatched in her 1/4 final. But Crawford showed good form and smarts advancing to the semis but the final was out of reach this time as she finished in 12th.

As the day ended and the teams made their way to Falun for the final three races the final sprint was somewhat anti-climactic for Randall as she shared her final thoughts on the day with Canada’s Len Valjas adding another podium for the North Americans in the men’s sprint…

“I haven’t actually received the globe today, the official presentation will be on Sunday after the final race.  So today was a little anticlimactic.

“The decision to stay in Europe for the full winter has paid off for sure. Since Alaska is so far away, it just didn’t make sense for me to go home. A few of the Canadians went home for short breaks, and that seems to have worked well for them.  So we’ll just have to see depending on what the big goals are in the future.

“I’m just honored to be among such fine company! It really makes race days fun when there are multiple performances to celebrate and seeing the other North Americans race well continues to inspire me to be even better.”

Qualifications HERE.
Final results HERE.
Sprint Cup final overall HERE.
World Cup overall standings HERE.