January 26, 2013 (Liberec, Czech Republic) – The USA’s Erik Bjornsen skied to a strong 16th-place finish in the men’s 30km Skiathlon (15kmCL/15kmFR), the final U23 race of the 2013 U23/Junior Nordic World Ski Championships, as Russia went 1-2 taking home more hardware.

Eric Bjornsen in action at U23 Worlds © USSA

Sergey Ustiugov and Evgeniy Belov skied away from the pack on the classic leg with Ustiugov winning his second gold by 2.5s as Belov settled for silver with Mark Starostin from Kazakhstan taking home the bronze over 30s behind.

Bjornsen who was 16th at the end of the classic leg held on to his ranking as he had the 18th best skate time to finish 2:03.8 behind the winner. His teammate Eric Packer was 48th at the switch-over having a much better skate leg (32nd) to finish 30th overall.

Men's race action at U23 Skiathlon © Liberec 2013

Patrick Stewart-Jones of Nakkertok was the only Canadian finisher in 47th, as Colin Abbott of Whitehorse (ranked 57th) and Andy Shields of Waterloo (ranked 62nd) were lapped and had to withdraw.

In the women’s 15km (7.5kmCL/7.5 kmFR) Skiathlon it was a 3-skier race in the end as Norway’s Ragnhild Haga scored her second gold in a tight battle with Italy’s Debora Agreiter in second, a mere +1.1 behind, with Kari Oeyre Slind also from Norway in third at +2.3 behind Haga. The Russians were shut out of the medals as Natalia Zhukova, in second after the classic leg, slipped to fourth at the finish 23.3s behind the winner.

Caitlin Patterson © Pam Doyle file photo

Leading the charge for the North Americans was Caitlin Patterson from Craftsbury Common, VT, in 21st following the classic leg with a strong skate to move up two spots into 19th. Following her was Sophie Caldwell also from Vermont and racing for the Dartmouth Ski Team in the points in 28th, with Annie Pokorny from Spokane, WA, in 29th and Anne Hart from Stillwater, MN, also racing this season with Dartmouth in 31st.

Haga wins second gold... © Liberec 2013

Annika Hicks of Canmore Nordic was the top Canadian in 32nd, with Foothills skiers Heidi Widmer and Marlis Kromm in 39th and 43rd respectively followed by Andrea Lee of Strathcona Nordic finished 46th.

“It was a good race considering I woke up with a sore throat this morning,” said Hicks. “I wasn’t overly confident but pulled off a good race. I stayed relaxed in the classic and during the skate I pushed and caught a few girls, so really happy.”

Annika Hicks on the course © CCC photo

U23 Women’s Skiathlon results HERE.
U23 Men’s Skiathlon results HERE.