March 05, 2014 (Drammen,  Norway) – The USA’s Kikkan Randall made it a hat-trick capturing her third Sprint Cup crystal globe in Drammen, Norway as Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR) snatched the victory today at the FIS World Cup 1.3km CL sprint event, outgunning teammate Marit Bjoergen (NOR) for the top spot.

Bjoergen settled for second place and Sweden’s Stina Nilsson (SWE) broke up a Norwegian sweep to take third. Top qualifier Oestberg wound up fourth, while Randall just missed out on the final by a mere 0.2s settling for seventh.

“It was a really good day of racing for me I had good skis and good feelings. It was a solid qualifier for me but I always do better in the rounds and was having solid finishes. I was really bummed not to make the final… 0.2s is just so close,” Randall told Trax post-race.

“Then I heard the news that I had locked up the Sprint Globe – I didn’t even realize it was possible today and I was just fighting for every point I could get as it’s so close. To secure it again is an incredible feeling. It’s incredible to put three years together like this I’m so psyched.”

“While the Olympics were my biggest goal this year, trying to defend the Sprint Cup was also big in my mind. It’s nice to be ending the season on a high note!” – full Randall interview coming soon.

Randall is now in an elite club as only two athletes have managed to win the globe this many times – Bente Skari has five wins in a row 1998-2002, and Bjoergen won four straight sprint World Cups from 2003-2006.

The American superstar has a 54-point lead over Germany’s Denise Herrmann in the standings with just one mini-tour sprint remaining and only 50 points at stake. The window for Randall to clinch the title opened when Germany’s Denise Herrmann, her closest rival, failed to advance to the semi-finals.

Ingvild Oestberg (NOR) won the qualifier for the 1.3km CL sprints in Drammen, followed by Bjoergen in second, and Slovenia’s Katja Visnar (SLO) in third. Randall was the top North American qualifier in 17th. Other North Americans to make the heats included Sadie Bjornsen (USA) in 21st and Canada’s Perianne Jones (CAN) in 27th. Conditions were overcast with soft snow and temperatures hovering around 3 degrees C.

Early in her quarter final, Bjornsen tried to change lanes, but caught a ski and collided with Norway’s Astrid Jacobsen (NOR), crashing as a result. She finished sixth in her heat and did not advance ending up 30th on the day.

Randall and Jones were both in the second quarter final heat as Randall on no-wax skis moved up from fifth at the start to fourth. Her skis were rocket fast, and she was able to glide into second on the long downhill and then sprinted to second place in the heat to advance to the semi finals. Germany’s Herrmann finished third in the same heat, but did not advance as a Lucky Loser as it was a slower heat – significant for Randall in the run for the Sprint Cup. Jones was 6th and did not advance finishing 24th on the day.

At the beginning of the first semi final, two Swedes led it out with Randall skiing fourth. Oestberg made a move and took the lead, while Randall maintained her position until the downhill, where she took over second place again. Coming into the finishing straight, Oestberg was still out front with Randall in second. Oestberg took the win, but in the photo finish, Randall ended up third behind Sweden’s Nilsson ending 7th overall but takes home her third Sprint Cup globe.

“Kikkan’s hat trick of three World Cup sprint titles in a row really sums up just how consistently dominant she has been in sprinting over these past years. We are all so proud of her accomplishment,” commented Chris Grover, Cross Country Head Coach.

“She skied great all day. She had excellent skis and performed with a lot of energy and stayed near the front, finishing second in her quarterfinal to advance to the semis. She really understands this Drammen sprint: where to save energy, where to get in the draft, and where to make strong passing moves. It takes a few years of skiing this special Drammen course to really understand the demands and the tactics.”

Bjoergen took the lead in the second semi final, followed by Falla who displayed superior pacing and took Bjoergen at the line, while Visnar and Krista Lahteenmaki (FIN) advanced as the lucky losers, squeezing out Randall for a spot in the final.