December 15, 2012 (Canmore, AB) – Sweden’s Emil Joensson proved to be unstoppable again in the men’s 1.3km FR Sprint at Canmore, but young Jesse Cockney (CAN) stole some headlines today as he challenged the veteran in the qualification round and then made it to the semi finals with lively skiing to finish a career-best 9th. Norway’s Anders Gloeersen took second and Russia’s Nikita Kriukov brought home the bronze medal in the final.

“I’ve never skied this well in my life,” said 23-year-old Cockney. “It’s a really fantastic day something special – I was really close but my position wasn’t good at the end. There’s lots of positive energy out there and I’m an emotional guy.

“It was great to be in my backyard and hear all of my friends cheer my name on that hill. It was an awesome experience that words just can’t describe. It felt great.” Cockney made a name for himself when he place 6th in the FR sprint at the 2011 U23 Nordic Worlds in Oetapaa, Slovenia.

American Andy Newell continued his hot streak making the final with dynamic skiing but wasn’t in the play for the podium at the finish equalling his 5th place finish in Quebec City. Almost making the final was rising Canadian star Lenny Valjas who says his injured hand is almost 100% as he nailed a strong 7th place finish on the day.

“I was satisfied with last weekend’s 5th-place but here in Canmore I really wanted more. I could taste the podium going into the final,” Newell confided, “My finish speed had been feeling great all day and I had been skiing tactically well. Somehow I just lost a little contact in a corner and couldn’t draft as well as I’d hoped. I’m happy with the way my speed and fitness feels though and looking forward to more and more sprint finals.”

“It was like a roller derby out there with lots of pushing and shoving,” said Valjas. “The course seems wide, but you almost need it a little wider on the downhill because you don’t want to get tangled up. I’m not sure that my tactics were right. I really tried to attack on the top of the hill, but didn’t plan to get in front. I looked back and realized everyone was still drafting me and didn’t have a big enough gap. I am super happy with this result though.”

Missing in the action were Canadian studs Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey who were expected to perform well here as Kershaw calls Canmore home. But both were not on form and didn’t qualify pointing perhaps to the difficulties of a tough early season schedule that saw them begin in Sweden, then head to Finland, then Quebec City and now Canmore for round four.

Also in the points were Canadian Phil Widmer (15th ) and American Skyler Davis (24th) who both skied smart and strong. Widmer qualified 24th but was eliminated in his quarter final in a close battle with Italy’s Federico Pellegrino ending up 3rd in the heat. Davis was another casualty placing 5th in a tough heat with Joensson – the fastest quarter final of the day – as the two skiers ahead of him were lucky losers making the semi finals.

“I’m excited to get in the top 30 today,” said Davis. “That was a huge goal for the season. I wasn’t expecting to do it today, but more than happy about today.”

After turning heads with a stellar second best time in the qualifications Cockney asserted himself again in his quarter final heat quickly getting to the front and never looking back. Skiing with panache all eyes were on him during his semi final round but he could not muster the same effort and finished 5th in his heat.

Newell aced his quarter final over Valjas as the two battled again in their semi with the American coming out on top both times. With back-to-back finals under his belt Newell can taste the podium as he looks to tap into a higher gear.

Sweden’s Emil Joensson remains unbeaten since 2008 on Canadian snow winning the sprint races in Quebec City as well. The World Cup continues on Sunday with the men’s and women’s skiathlon races.

Full results HERE.