April 30, 2018 (Seljalandsdalur, Iceland) – The USA’s John Downing (AXCS) led the charge as the top North American man finishing 21st overall, while Canada’s Brandy Stewart (Nakkertok) was the top woman placing 35th overall. Both claimed second in their respective age categories. Downing is the National Director of the American Cross Country Skiers (AXCS) and President of the World Masters Association that recently held the MWC2018 with the Loppet Foundation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Other top North American results include former US Olympian Bob Gray winning the 25km CL Men 66+ category over Mike Ivie (USA) in second. Carolyn Tiernan (USA) led a North American sweep in the 25km CL Women 66+ category with Danièle Grenier (CAN) second and Kathy Christy (USA) third. In the 25km CL race Lindsey Bengtson (USA) won the Women 35-49 category with Barbara Kreisle (USA) second and Mark MacLachlan (USA) won the Men 35-49 race.

Maria Gräfnings (SWE) and Gräfnings and Ilya Chernousov (RUS) won the 50 km classic main competition. France’s Anouk Faivre Picon was second and Selina Gasparin (Sui), winner of the 25km F race was 3rd. For the men it was Alexander Panzhinskiy (RUS) in 2nd and local skier Snorri Eybór Einarsson (ISL) in 3rd.

Results (brief)

50 KM Cl Fossavatnsgangan

Women
1. Maria Gräfnings (SWE) 02:36:17
2. Anouk Faivre Picon (FRA) 02:45:20
3. Selina Gasparin (CHE) 02:46:56
4. Kristina Axelsson (SWE) 02:46:57
5. Elsa Guðrún Jónsdóttir (ISL) 02:56:20

Men
1. Ilya Chernousov (RUS) 02:13:59
2. Alexander Panzhinskiy (RUS) 02:19:11
3. Snorri Eyþór Einarsson (ISL) 02:23:17
4. Karl-Gunnar Skjönsfjell (NOR) 02:35:11
5. Dagur Benediktsson (ISL) 02:40:38

Men 50-65
1. Einar Ólafsson (ISL) 02:57:46
2. John Downing (USA) 02:58:51
3. Kirill Gorev (RUS) 03:02:58
4. Stephen Smigiel (USA) 03:05:06

Women 35-49
1. Kamila Borutova (CZE) 02:59:41
2. Brandy Stewart (CAN) 03:11:36
3. Guðbjörg Rós Sigurðardóttir (ISL) 03:29:29

Women 50-65
1. Cathrine Bendz Aarrestad (NOR) 03:25:02
2. Marjut Rolig (FIN) 03:31:41
3. Tricia Swartling (USA) 03:34:25

Women 66+
1. Carolyn Tiernan (USA) 03:55:54
2. Danièle Grenier (CAN) 04:53:59
3. Kathy Christy (USA) 04:58:13

Full results here.

25 km F Fossavatn Skate

1. Ilya Chernousov (RUS) 01:05:34
2. Snorri Eyþór Einarsson (ISL) 04:28
3. Alexander Panzhinskiy (RUS) 10:04

8. John Downing (USA) 20:26
12. David Knoop (USA) 25:10
14. Brandy Stewart (CAN) 25:40
18. Stephen Smigiel (USA) 27:33
19. Randal Bladel (USA) 28:54
20. Kyle Sarasin (USA) 30:21

Full results here.

25km Cl Fossavatnsgangan

Women
1. Karoline Øren (NOR) 01:31:09
2. Linda Rós Hannesdóttir (ISL) 01:32:36
3. Lindsey Bengtson (USA) 01:52:04
4. Hildur Karen Jónsdóttir (ISL) 01:54:20
5. Martha Ernstdóttir (ISL) 01:54:59

Men
1. Steven Patrick Gromatka (ISL) 01:27:33
2. Mark MacLachlan (USA) 01:32:18
3. Einar Birkir Sveinbjörnsson (ISL) 01:39:27
4. Václav Mráz (CZE) 01:43:40
5. Simo Sukselainen (FIN) 01:44:31

Women 35-49
1. Lindsey Bengtson (USA) 01:52:04
2. Barbara Kreisle (USA) 02:03:30
3. Hege Karete Hamre (NOR) 02:14:44

Men 35-49
1. Mark MacLachlan (USA) 01:32:18
2. Václav Mráz (CZE) 01:43:40
3. Jan Knyttl (CZE) 01:45:39

Men 50-65
1. Simo Sukselainen (FIN) 01:44:31
2. Guðmundur Rafn Kristjánsson (ISL) 01:51:46
3. Paul Kadziora (CAN) 01:52:15

Men 66+
1. Bob Gray (USA) 01:46:48
2. Mike Ivie (USA) 01:57:31
3. igurður Gunnarsson (ISL) 02:06:50

Full results here.