February 27, 2016 (Rasnov, Romania) – The FIS Nordic Junior World Championships wrapped up on Feb. 26 with a 4x5k and 4×2.5k freestyle relays pushed up from Feb. 28 due to a lack of snow. The U.S. junior women’s relay team, which consisted of Julia Kern, Katharine Ogden, Vivian Hett and Sarah Bezdicek led the U.S. in eighth.

Women's relay start © FIS

Sweden edged out Norway to claim the relay by just 0.6 seconds. Russia finished third. Illness also started taking it’s toll as Canada could only field a team of Hannah Mehain and Natalie Hynes.

The USA’s Kern started out the relay strong, moving up to third before getting tangled up in a fall, bumping the U.S. to 12th before the hand off to Ogden. With only 2.5k to make up time, Ogden made gusty moves throughout the second leg to move the U.S. into fifth at the hand off to Hett. Hett was not able to hold onto fifth and settled for ninth with Bezdicek doing an impressive job of moving the team up a place to finish 8th.

In the men’s 4x5k relay, Norway dominated the race to fish over 45 seconds ahead of Russia. France finished third. Norway led nearly the entire race, but it was team anchor, Johannes Klaebo, who lengthened the gap to win by 47.7 seconds.

The USA’s Ian Torchia handed off to Cully Brown in 9th. Brown was 11th when he tagged Henry Harmeyer who dropped to 16th as anchor Zak Ketterson made an awesome comeback, clawing back five spots to finish 11th. Canada finished 15th, with Antoine Blais skiing a strong individual leg, 11th on his lap.

Junior men here.
Junior women here.