February 03, 2017 (PyeongChang, Korea) – American Ida Sargent snagged her first World Cup podium claiming 3rd in the Women’s Sprint CL at the Olympic Test Event in PyeongChang on Friday. It was a day of firsts as the sprint competitions marked the first time that South Korea has ever hosted an FIS Cross-Country World Cup event.

Anamarija Lampic of Slovenia went head-to-head with Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk on the final climb and created a gap which she held to the finish to win her first World Cup race. Silje Oeyre Slind of Norway in second also captured her first WCup podium as well. Kowalczyk crossed the line in 4th at 2.35 back.

“It has been a goal of mine for a long time to be on the podium so it was a very special day. I’ve been inspired by so many fast teammates so happy to follow in their footsteps,” Sargent told Trax.

Her teammate Sophie Caldwell topped the qualifications for a career-first win as well as five American women advanced including Sargent in 5th, Caitlin Patterson in 22nd, Liz Guiney in 25th and Liz Stephen in 29th. It was rookie Guiney’s first time in the World Cup heats. Canada’s Annika Hicks was just out of the top 30 placing 32nd while Sadie White was just behind her in 34th.

“Today started really well for me,” commented Caldwell. “I paced my qualifier up the first hill so that I didn’t get bogged down on the second hill. I was really happy with how it went and it was exciting to win my first sprint qualifier.”

Sargent was on fire and her heats were some of the fastest. “This course is really challenging as a long course with two big hills on it. Both of the lucky losers came out of my quarterfinal and then the semifinal so the heats were really fast from the start but I was able to learn a little with each one and tweak my strategy and just tried to stay somewhat conservative on the first hill and then go for it on the second hill.

“I had figured out a good line on that last downhill and I also had very fast skis so I used it as a chance to move up each time.  I think I was behind Kowalczyk in the final at that part but I was hoping if I skied it well I could gain back some time,” she continued.

Caldwell was happy with her day as well despite not making the final.

“My semi went well. I was able to control the pace out of the start and then Maria [Lampic] and I formed a little gap over the second hill and were able to ski it into the finish pretty easy. My semi was a little hectic when a couple people almost fell after the first downhill. We scrubbed our speed quite a bit going into that second uphill, but I pushed hard over the top and was able to slingshot into first on the bottom of the downhill.

“I let Justyna get a little to far ahead of me over the riser and it was enough for her to cut in front of me before the finish stretch and a couple others flew by us. It was 100% my fault and I was really mad at myself because I was determined to make the final, but I felt good today and there are also a lot of positives to take away. The most important being Ida’s podium! It was really neat to see her get her first podium and I’m so proud of her,” she added.

Sargent was over the moon with her career-first WCup podium.

“I’m really excited about the podium and it hasn’t really set in yet.  Our service team was awesome today providing great skis all day long and I feel so grateful to have such an awesome team behind me both on the USST and at home in Craftsbury. I’m not racing tomorrow and will rest up to race the team sprint on Sunday with Sophie,” she concluded.

Qualifications here.
Results here.