March 23, 2014 (Anchorage, Alaska) – APU’s Reese Hanneman took home the men’s 1.4km CL Sprint victory and series title at the SuperTour Finals as a protest saw the initial winner, veteran Andy Newell (Stratton), relegated to 6th despite being first across the line.

Hanneman © Rob Whitney

Grabbing an early lead and hanging onto it until the finish line was Hanneman’s strategy heading into the final day of the SuperTour Finals at Kincaid Park. That strategy served him well in contesting for the win but Newell but changed lanes in the final stretch making contact with Hanneman resulting in the protest and ultimate ruling.

Newell © Rob Whitney

The scenario was anything but how Hanneman had envisioned beating the three-time Olympian and perennial top-ten World Cup finisher. “Andy’s one of the fastest guys in the world and I was just trying to get as big of an advantage as I could going into the final climb,” Hanneman said.

Newell had Hanneman on his left-hand side when the two crested Elliot’s Climb and headed into the final 100 meters. Newell said he thought he had enough room to pass the 24-year-old Hanneman by switching two lanes to his left. But in doing so, the Vermont skier made contact with Hanneman’s skis.

Quarter final action © Rob Whitney

“They say you’re not supposed to ski over anyone’s skis in sprint racing,” Newell said, “but that stuff happens.”

Newell crossed the finish line first, but Hanneman said his coaches at Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center protested the victory. After race officials printed Newell’s 0.7-second win over Hanneman on the results board, it was later taken down and announced that Hanneman finished first and Newell was bumped to sixth.

Dakota © Rob Whitney

“We were side by side and he just skated right across my skis,” Hanneman said. “He went right between my tips and my boots.”

Hanneman, who won the classic sprint at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Utah this past January, said he wasn’t sure why Newell decided to change lanes along that final push adding that the move wasn’t necessary in order for Newell to win.

“He cut me off pretty bad,” he said. “Super blatant. A lot of contact.”

Semifinal action © Rob Whitney

But according to Newell, 30, his lane change wasn’t at all blatant adding that he barely touched the tips of Hanneman’s skis. “I thought I had gapped Reese enough to definitely change lanes,” explained Newell.

“I saw the video and thought it was a clean crossover. I changed tracks and I didn’t even go into the track in front of him. I actually went two over so I wouldn’t cut him off,” he added. “It wasn’t intentional – I didn’t even know he was there.”

Kornfield © Rob Whitney

Regardless, the last-minute lane change cost Newell $750 in prize money and helped out Hanneman, who said he plans to use his winnings to pay off some travel debts. “I have to pay for that trip to the World Cup,” he said.

Hanneman finished with a winning time of 3 minutes, 25 seconds, which was 0.7 seconds slower than Newell before the relegation was announced. Benjamin Saxton (3:29) finished second, Tyler Kornfield (3:31) placed third, Patrick O’Brien (3:35) grabbed fourth, and Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess (3:44) nabbed fifth.

Final podium (l-r) Newell, Obrien, Saxton, Hanneman, Kornfield, Dakota © Rob Whitney

Newell, a nine-year member of the U.S. Ski Team, didn’t agree with the decision, but didn’t necessarily seem all that concerned about it either.

“On the World Cup they would definitely let that slide,” he said. “It’s not a big deal. We’re just here having fun. The result doesn’t matter to me.”

Qualifications here.
Results brackets here.