November 26, 2010 (Kuusamo, Finland) –  Top US sprinter Andy Newell made the 1.4km classic sprint men’s A final to finish 6th after qualifying in 8th as Norway’s John Kristian Dahl took the win. Canada’s Alex Harvey also had a good day claiming 9th, while Devon Kershaw was 16th moving up after qualifying in 30th. Team Hardwood’s Len Valjas had a solid day qualifying in 19th and finished 29th while Stefan Kuhn was 30th.

Norway’s Marit Bjoergen continued her domination winning the women’s 1.2km classic sprint A final over Petra Majdic (SLO) in second with Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (NOR) in third. Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova was the only North American woman to qualify (23rd) but did not advance past the quarterfinals and finished 24th. Bjoergen qualified almost 5s faster than Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) in second. “That’s crazy,” commented former US and Canadian coach Marty Hall.

The USA’s Ida Sargent continued her strong entry into World Cup racing as she was the next top North American placing 33rd followed by Kikkan Randall in 42nd and Canada’s Chandra Crawford in 45th.

The Canadian men had a nice bounce back from their Gallivare debacle placing four men in the sprint qualifications lead by Harvey in 9th. This placed Canada third behind Finland and Sweden for the most qualifiers in the top 30.

Women’s Sprint Qualifications HERE.
Men’s Sprint Qualifications HERE.

Women’s Sprint Final HERE.
Men’s Sprint Final HERE.

Results (brief)

Men

1. John Kristian Dahl (NOR)
2. Alexey Poltaranin (KAZ)
3. Sami Jauhojaervi (FIN)
4. Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR)
5. Renato Pasini (ITA)
6. Andrew Newell (USA)

9. Alex Harvey (CAN)
16. Devon Kershaw (CAN)
29. Len Valjas (CAN)
30. Stefan Kuhn (CAN)
50. Brent McMurtry (CAN)
67. Simeon Hamilton (USA)
84. George Grey (CAN)
87. Kris Freeman (USA)
109. Ivan Babikov (CAN)
116. Chris Cook (USA)
120. Noah Hoffman (USA)

Women

1. Marit Bjoergen (NOR)
2. Petra Majdic (SLO)
3. Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (NOR)
4. Charlotte Kalla (SWE)
5. Madoka Natsumi (JPN)
6. Marianna Longa (ITA)

24. Daria Gaiazova (CAN)
33. Ida Sargent (USA)
42. Kikkan Randall (USA)
45. Chandra Crawford (CAN)
91. Morgan Qarritola (USA)
96. Elizabeth Stephen (USA)