January 26, 2019 (Lahti, Finland) – Team USA won historic gold in the U20 Men’s 4x5km Relay at the 2019 Junior World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland as Luke Jager, Ben Ogden, Johnny Hagenbuch, and Gus Schumacher claimed the victory in 45:34.7.

The US squad, who won relay silver at last year’s Worlds in Switzerland, was always near the front of the race taking the win over Russia by a 3.8-second margin as Schumacher anchored the team to victory. Germany was third another 5 seconds back.

Jager skied the first classic leg and tagged Ogden with a small gap over France and Norway. Ogden extended the lead to over 2 seconds but Hagenbuch was caught in the first skate leg and fell back into third. Schumacher battled back and regained the lead taking no prisoners en route to gold.

Team Canada’s Remi Drolet, Sam Hendry, Xavier McKeever, and anchor Thomas Stephen battled to finish 11th on the day out of 19 teams on the start line.

The US Women had a stellar day as well in their 4×3.3km Relay finishing just off the podium as Mara McCollor, Kendall Kramer, Sydney Palmer-Leger and Novie McCabe were 4th overall.

Norway took the win in a close battle with Russia who settled for the silver at one second behind with Sweden claiming third at 33 seconds back. Team Canada’s Anne-Marie Petitclerc, Jasmine Drolet, Anna Pryce, and Molly Miller finished 11th.

Men’s Relay results here.
Women’s Relay results here.

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