January 27, 2013 (Liberec, Czech Republic) – The final day of the 2013 FIS Nordic U23/Junior World Ski Championships in Liberec saw the Russian Junior men’s team win 4x5km (CL/FR) relay gold while Sweden took home the women’s 4×3.3km (CL/FR) title edging out Russia by 2s with Germany claiming the bronze. In the Junior men’s race Norway scored the silver with Sweden earning a second relay medal with the bronze.

Team Russia wins Junior men's relay gold. © liberec2013.cz

The US Team of Heather Mooney, Mary O’Connell, Emily Hannah and Corey Stock finished a respectable 10th at 2:43.9 behind the winners while the Canadians with Maya Macissac-Jones, Anne-Marie Comeau, Frederique Vezina and Emily Hannah were further back in 14th.

Swedis women's relay team win gold © liberec2013.cz

The US Men’s squad with HANNEMAN Logan Hanneman, Ben Saxton, Kyle Bratud and Sawyer Kesselheim placed 14th at 2:14.6 behind Russia with Team Canada consisting of Alexis Turgeon, Ezekial Williams, David Palmer and Raphael Couturier placed 15th overall.

Relays Conclude the Championships: Swedish and Russian triumph

(LIBEREC, 27 January 2013) – The final day of the World Junior championships in Liberec belonged to the relay competitions.  The favoured Russian teams picked only a half of the gold harvest.  The Swedish athlete Stina Nilsson ensured her team of victory with her excellent finish. In the junior men’s, the Russian team confirmed its qualities.

The Sunday junior ladies’ relay brought a fantastic competition to the World Championships in Liberec.  The gold medal was won by the young Swedish skiers when their last skier, Stina Nilsson, did not give the Russian, Nadezhda Shuniaeva, any chance at the finish. The bronze medal goes to Germany.

The last junior women’s competition of the Junior World Championships was the 4 x 3.3 km Relay. On Sunday morning, in frosty conditions, 14 relay teams set off on the trail in Vesec. The first two sections were skied in classic style, the two final ones by skate-skiing.

Already in the classic style sections it was clear that it would be the Russians and the Swedish fighting for the gold. The Russian athletes developed a slight lead, but lost it in the third part, when Sundling caught up with Sedova. The Swedish euphoria began in the last part, when Nilsson beat Shuniaeva with an excellent finish in the final stretch.

“It is amazing to win the relay. I knew I would be strong in the finish and I was confident I could go for victory. The whole team did a great job. We have a big potential for the future,” mentioned Swedish star Stina Nilsson.

Nadezhda Shuniaeva (RUS): “I gave my best in the last leg but Stina (Nilsson) was very fast in the finish. I could not beat hear. Silver medal is a very good result for us.”

Victoria Carl (GER): “I am very happy for the bronze medal. We have a young team and it is a great success for us. It gives us big motivation for the future work.”

Russian relay teams © liberec2013.cz

Junior men’s relay: Despite a crisis, the superb Russians won a gold medal

The last competition of the Junior World Championships in Liberec ended according to expectations. The gold medal in the men´s relay was won by the favourites of the competition, the Russians, the silver medal going to Norway and the bronze to the Swedish relay team. The Russian athletes managed to cope with a crisis of the championship’s four-time medallist Maltsev. His colleagues made up for his delay and the team won a well-deserved gold.

19 national teams took part in the junior men’s relay competition. As in the ladies´ category, the first two sections were skied in the classic technique, and the final two in freestyle.

Alexey Chervotkin started the competition according to expectations and arrived at the first changeover with a lead of twenty seconds. Surprisingly, the classic style did not suit Maltsev, and he came fourth to the stadium. Roman Tarasov remedied the situation, and due to his amazing performance caught up fast with the Swede and Norwegian and arrived at the changeover in first place again.

Dmitry Rostovtsev © liberec2013.cz

“To win gold medal with the team is always something special. All the boys did their best on their leg so I could control the race but I still wanted to ski fast and secure the victory,” said member of golden Russian relay Dmitry Rostovtsev.

Haavard Solaas Taugboel (NOR): “I knew Rostovtsev is a tough guy. He is very strong. When I went out after the exchange I wanted to close the gap as soon as possible. I think my first lap was good, but in the second 2.5 km lap he went away so fast, I just did not have enough power. I am satisfied with the silver medal. I have not been in a best shape during the championships, so it is a great satisfaction for us.”

Rasmus Hornfeldt (SWE): “I am very happy for the bronze medal. Everybody did a good job. Everybody gave the best performance of the week so we deserve the medal today. I felt pretty good. I saved same energy for the last uphill!”

Full women’s results HERE.
Full men’s results HERE.