November 15, 2009 (Bruksvallarna, Sweden) – After a disappointing classic sprint event yesterday, Canada’s Devon Kershaw came back to score his first win of the season in the Mill Vall 15km skate race in Bruksvallarna, Sweden. He took the win over Åsarna IK’s Johan Olsson by 6.2 seconds. Team mates Alex Harvey finished in 14th, Graham Nishikawa was 15th, and Brian McKeever placed 56th.

According to Kershaw’s Devon’s Twitter account “It was a great day for me today. I ended up winning the 15km skate. Felt good, it was hard but racing always is. Made up for yesterday! ” – click here.

The women’s race was won by Sweden’s Charlotte Kalle while 2009 U.S. SuperTour Overall Distance and Sprint Champion Kristina Strandberg was 23rd on the hunt to make the Swedish Olympic Team. Apologies as we missed including Strandberg’s 17th place finish in Saturday’s sprints.

Canadian star Chandra Crawford did not race and when Marty Hall caught up with her yesterday nicknaming her the Classic Queen we found out why: “Hey Chandra, The Classic Queen is my new nickname for you – great going – considering all that has gone on this past year and a half you have to be sleeping a lot easier with this first one under your belt. You’ll move up for sure. All the best and hope you’re racing tomorrow [Sunday]. – Marty

“Thanks Marty! And thanks also for the info on your skiers who had the surgery on their tendons. Would love to race today but Inge [Braten] thought it best that we know when to hold em, know when to fold em and do what the body needs now. I’ll get to race distance in Beito I think. Thanks for the encouragement!” Best wishes, Chandra.

Women’s 10km skate results here.
Men’s 15km skate results here.