November 29, 2014 (Kuusamo, Finland) – American Ida Sargent delivered a personal best 5th place finish as she put the USA in the women’s 1.4 CL Sprint final today at the Ruka season opener 2014-15 FIS XC World Cup in Kuusamo, Finland. Marit Bjoergen (Nor) claimed her 67th victory as Norway swept the podium.

Sargent, who qualified 27th, skied well advancing as a Lucky Loser to both the semis and the finals. Here teammates Kikkan Randall and Sadie Bjornsen, who qualified 12th and 18th respectively, were in the same quarterfinal heat and did not advance. Canada’s Perianne Jones was 48th and American Jessie Diggins in 64th (crashed) did not make the heats.

Canada’s Alex Harvey led the North American men in 14th overall as he finished third in his quarterfinal after qualifying 17th and did not adance. Americans Simi Hamilton and Andy Newell, who qualified 16th and 24th respectively, finished their quarterfinal heats in 6th and also did not advance. Hamilton finished 26th and Newell was 28th.

Norway swept the podium again with Erik Brandsdal outpacing Petter Northug in the final with Sondre Turvoll Fossli taking the final podium spot as Russian’s Alexey Petukhov and Sergey Ustiugov ended up 5th and 6th behind another Norwegian Finn Haagen Krogh in 4th.

Canada’s Lenny Valjas was 39th while the USA’s Erik Bjornsen was 56th followed by Devon Kershaw (Can) in 57th with Reese Hanneman (USA) 67th.

Results

Women

1. Marit Bjoergen (Nor)
2. Katja Visnar (Slo)
3. Maika Caspersen Falla (Nor)

5. Ida Sargent (USA)

Full results here.
Women’s Qualifications here.

Men

1. Erik Brandsdal (Nor)
2. Petter Northug (Nor)
3. Fossli (Nor)

14. Alex Harvey (Can)

Full results here.
Men’s Qualifications here.