January 16, 2009 (Whistler, BC) – The pre-Olympic World Cups hosted by the Whistler Olympic Park kicked off the Nordic Festival weekend on Friday with the 1.3km women/1.6km men’s classic sprint event. The morning’s qualifying round saw 58 women and 47 men take to the start line. For the head-to-head elimination rounds in the afternoon, six women and eight men from North America made it through to the quarter finals. The USA’s Kikkan Randall and Andy Newell lead the way qualifying in 16th and 3rd respectively.

Canada’s Devon Kershaw and Newell were the lone North Americans to make it through to the semi-finals guaranteeing top-12 finishes. The two battled it out with Giorgia Di Centa of Italy for 1st through 3rd spots in the “B” final. Di Centa – traditionally a distance specialist – out double-polled Newell to win as Kershaw faded down the homestretch to settle for third. A fall in his semi-final race possibly cost Newell a spot in “A” final as he looked strong all day. The USA’s Garrott Kuzzy was disqualified in his quarterfinal heat for a false start relegating him to 30th.

“You have to be happy with being in the top-10, but my schedule has been extremely difficult over the last two months with the Tour de Ski, and it is disappointing when your body can’t respond the way it normally does,” said Kershaw. “Whether I was eighth or 48th, this week is all about prep for the Olympics and getting comfortable with this environment while racing against the best skiers in the world.”

Emil Joensson of Sweden showed he is back in good form holding off World Cup Sprint leader Ola Vigen Hattestad of Norway to win the men’s “A” final. In third was Ivan Ivanov of Russia, who out-lunged Germany’s Josef Wenzl but was later disqualified for a skating violation giving Wenzl the bronze. The disqualification moved Newell and Kershaw up to 7th, and 8th respectively.

“This is my second home I think. I love this course and I love competing in Canada,” said Joensson “You cannot stop thinking out there because there are some tight turns where you can get in trouble. I am looking forward to racing the Olympics here and I hope I’m in good shape.”

In the women’s sprint Alena Prochazkova of Slovakia won just ahead of a hard charging Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland. In third was Anna Olsson of Sweden. On the day Randall moved up from her 16th place qualifying spot to finish 14th, followed by Sara Renner of Canada in 15th. “I had a good heart, but I have to work on my arm size,” said Renner the Olympic silver medallist. “It’s a double-pole finish so we’re going to work on that. It’s heartbreaking to be so close.” Both women finished third in their heats but failed to make it through in the “lucky loser” positions.

Full men’s results here
Full women’s results here

Results (brief – NA top 30)

Men
1. Emil Joensson (Swe)
2. Ola Vigen Hattestad (Nor)
3. Josef Wenzl (Ger)
4. Nikita Kriukov (Rus)
5. Renato Pasini (Ita)

7. Andy Newell (USA)
8. Devon Kershaw (Can)
15. Sean Crooks (Can)
21. Chris Cook (USA)
23. Torin Koos (USA)
24. Dave Nighbor (Can)
27. Colin Rogers (USA)
29. Garrott Kuzzy (USA)
30. Alex Harvey (Can)

Women
1. Alena Prochazkova (Svk)
2. Justyna Kowalczyk (Pol)
3. Anna Olsson (Swe)
4. Katerina Smutna (Aut)
5. Natalja Naryshkina (Rus)

14. Kikkan Randall (USA)
15. Sara Renner (Can)
20. Perianne Jones (Can)
22. Shayla Swanson (Can)
25. Morgan Smyth (USA)
30. Daria Gaiazova (Can)