February 23 – On Saturday, Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) was 26th in a 15K classic technique World Cup race won by defending World Cup champion Mathias Fredriksson of Sweden. Czech Katerina Neumannova won the women's 10K CL and Gabriella Paruzzi of Italy moved into the World Cup lead by finishing fourth.

Fredriksson, who stands second to Germany's Rene Sommerfeldt in the points after 18 races this season, was timed in 43:00.8 to defeat Russian Evgenij Dementiev by 7.8 seconds. Freeman, 38th at the 6K mark, steadily moved forward and finished 26th in 44:28.2.

Neumannova's winning time for her fourth win of the season was 31:47.2 with Paruzzi moving ahead of Estonian Kristina Smigun by 35 points after finishing fourth while Smigun was 18th.

Viessmann Cross Country World Cup

Umea, SWE – February 23

Men's 15K CL 1. Mathias Fredriksson, Sweden, 43:00.8 2. Evgenij Dementiev, Russia, 43:08.6 3. Jaak, Mae, Estonia, 43:12.5 4. Frode Estil, Norway, 43:22.8 5. Andrei Golovko, Kazakhstan, 43:39.9 – 26. Kris Freeman, Andover, N.H., 44:28.2 63. Andrew Johnson, Greensboro, Vt., 47:15.8 68. Justin Freeman, Andover, N.H., 47:29.5 69. Carl Swenson, Park City, Utah, 47:35.4

Women's 10K CL 1. Katerina Neumannova, Czech Republic, 31:47.2 2. Hilde G. Pedersen, Norway, 32:02.5 3. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 32:10.6 4. Gabriella Paruzzi, Italy, 32:20.3 5. Valentina Shevchenko, Ukraine, 32:21.4 —     62. Wendy Wagner, Park City, Utah, 36:21.1