January 21, 2013 (Liberec, Czech Republic) – The 2013 U23/Junior Nordic World Championships running from Jan. 21-27, got underway today in Liberec, Czech Republic with the Junior 1.3km CL sprints. The USA’s Heather Mooney was the top US qualifier in 19th with Corey Stock in 25th as Katherine Stewart-Jones made the cut for Canada in 30th.

Junior Women Podium (l-r) Carl 2nd, Nilsson 1st, Oschepkova 3rd © FIS

Sweden’s Stina Nilsson, the second fastest qualifier, took the win with Victoria Carl (GER) in second and top qualifier Evgenia Oschepkova (RUS) in third. Mooney ended up 19th, Stock finished 24th and Stewart-Jones moved up to 26th. Canada’s Maya Macisaac-Jones was 36th, Frederique Vezina 41st, Cendrine Browne 42nd, Sloan Storey 45th, and Anika Miller (USA) was 52nd.

Lennart Metz goes for gold in classic sprint in Liberec © Martin Sidorjak

The USA’s Logan Hanneman lead the North Americans in 10th in the Junior Men’s qualifications with teammate Benjamin Saxton in 11th and Canada’s Alexis Turgeon grabbing the final spot in 30th.

Russia’s Vadim Korolev showed the strength of the Russian program topping the qualifications but the final went to Germany’s Lennart Metz as Korolev settled for second with Bjoern Vidar Suhr 3rd. Saxton claimed 14th and Hanneman 16th as Turgeon ended up in 30th.

Also racing today were the USA’s Tucker McCrerey (42nd), Sawyer Kesselheim (45th) and Canadians Ezekial Williams (46th), Raphael Couturier (51st) and Scott James Hill (58th).

Junior Women’s Qualifications HERE.
Junior Women’s Final HERE.

Junior Men’s Qualifications HERE.
Junior Men’s Final HERE.