January 29, 2009 (Praz de Lys Sommand, France) – The 2009 World Jr/U-23 Championship got underway Thursday with the U-23 10/15km freestyle event. Liz Stephen of the USA – who won bronze last year in the mass start 15km free – was the top North American finisher followed closely by teammate Morgan Arritola in 8th. Alexa Turzian of the USA placed a solid 17th – Turzian is coming back from hip surgery in the offseason.

Canada’s top skier was Brittany Webster in 22nd place. Winning the women’s race was Poland’s Sylwia Jaskowiec by a huge margin of 42 seconds over Betty Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen of Norway. In third close behind was Laura Orgue of Spain just over one second behind Nilsen.

In the men’s 15km race Canada’s Frederic Touchette was the top finisher in 6th place just 18 seconds away from a podium finish. Right behind him was Len Valjas in 7th. The two Pierre Harvey Training Centre teammates were just 2.5 seconds apart. The top American was Matt Gelso in 19th while Maurice Manificat of France won the event in a time of 37:48.1. Just over 30 seconds behind the lead in second place was Alexey Poltaranin of Kazakstan. In third was Alexander Bessmertnykh of Russia. Canada’s Alex Harvey did not start today’s 15km race.

“Getting into the top-10 was my goal, but I didn’t expect to finish sixth,” said Touchette just prior to heading off to the awards ceremony in France. “This gives me good confidence heading into the pursuit race. I just have to keep up in the classic part and I now know I can ski with the best in the skate-ski.”

Next up the U-23 athletes will compete in the 15/30km Mass Start Pursuit while the juniors begin their championship races on Feb. 1 with the classic sprints.

Complete women’s results here
Complete men’s results here

Results (brief)

Women
1. Sylwia Jaskowiec (Pol) 28:39.1
2. Betty Ann Bjerkreim Nilsen (Nor) 29:21.3
3. Laura Orgue (Spa) 29:22.9
4. Astrid Oeyre Slind (Nor) 29:28.9
5. Anouk Faivre Picon (Fra) 29:51.5

7. Liz Stephen (USA) 30:00.1
8. Morgan Arritola (USA) 30:15.2
17. Alexa Turzian (USA) 30:59.8
22. Brittany Webster (Can) 31:23.1
31. Amanda Ammar (Can) 32:04.2
33. Alysson Marshall (Can) 32:14.9

Men
1. Maurice Manificat (Fra) 37:48.1
2. Alexey Poltaranin (Kaz) 38:19.8
3. Alexander Bessmertnykh 38:31.5
4. Thomas Vestboe (Nor) 38:34.0
5. Yevgeniy Velichko (Kaz) 38:39.5

6. Frederic Touchette (Can) 38:49.0
7. Len Valjas (Can) 38:51.5
17. Brent McMurty (Can) 39:38.9
19. Matt Gelso (USA) 39:44.1
21. Tad Elliott (USA) 39:47.8
28. Simeon Hamilton (USA) 40:20.7