November 30, 2018 (Lillehammer, NOR) – American Sadie Bjornson earned the U.S.A’s first World Cup podium of the 2018-19 season in the women’s Sprint FR in Lillehammer, Norway, on Friday. Bjornsen, who qualified 6th, battled through the quarterfinal and semifinal heats to finish third behind Sweden’s Jonna Sundling and Stina Nilsson, who finished first and second respectively. It was Sundling’s first World Cup victory.

“Today was such an exciting day because I have had my eyes on a skate sprint podium for a long time,” said Bjornsen. “I have now accomplished a podium in all the disciplines – skate sprint, classic sprint, classic distance, and skate distance, which is a huge accomplishment for me. Also, with so many skate sprints this season, I am so excited to get some confidence and belief to fight for the top in the long season to come.”

Rosie Brennan qualified a career-best 9th with Jessie Diggins 12th, but both shared the same 1/4 final and did not advance finishing fourth and fifth respectively in their heat. Diggins ended up 17th and Brennan was 21st while Sophie Caldwell was unable to start due to a cold.

“I am so happy with my qualifier today. I finally was able to find a good balance of speed and power to make things happen and that felt good. With expanded start quotas for all teams in a mini tour and the nations group, this is probably the most competitive World Cup of the year so to also get my best qualifying place is a huge accomplishment for me,” said Brennan. “I still have very little experience in the heats and am looking to make some improvements in group skiing, but it was a great start in sprinting and I am really looking forward to the rest of the tour.”

“We are very excited for Sadie,” stated U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Head Coach Chris Grover. “She stayed out of trouble all day and made opportunistic moves passing other racers whenever she had an opening. The key to this race was what kind of position one could create on the final downhill to the stadium and carrying momentum around the last turn into the finish lanes. Sadie put herself in great finish position all day and skied the final downhill aggressively and with poise. It’s going to be a big season for her. Congratulations to coach Erik Flora and the APU program!”

“What an amazing and exciting day among this rainy, rainy situation here in Lillehammer. Despite it being rainy and soaking wet out there, I was just trying to find the funniness in the situation. In the final I got stuck in the back once again, and was sad to not be able to go with Stina [Nilsson], but fortunately found my hole once again in the final climb to chase the two Swedes down,” added Bjornsen. “Huge thanks to the team for giving me some great skis. And thanks to the American fans that were out there in the rain today, I heard you. And finally, massive shout out to my APU teammate, Rosie Brennan, for an absolute stellar sprint. Qualifying 9th is amazing, and I know with a few more opportunities to ski heats, she will be a force to recon with.”

Results here.