February 03, 2011 (Madona, Latvia) – American junior racer Jessie Diggins bettered her 7th place performance in yesterday’s 5km freestyle event, finishing 6th on Friday in the women’s 10km freestyle race at the FIS Scandinavian Cup in Latvia. Insufficient numbers of Junior entries lead race organizers to add Juniors to the Senior categories, making Diggins’ performance even more impressive.

Twenty three women started and Norway swept the podium, with Hilde Lauvhaug, Heidi Weng, and Britt Ingunn Nydal taking first through third places respectively. Diggins’ team mates made the top 20 with Jennie Bender in 15th, Rebecca Rorabaugh 16th, and Heather Mooney in 17th place.

US skier, Tad Elliott delivered the top North American result placing 22nd in the men’s 15km freestyle race. Sixty men were on the start line, and Finland took top honours with a win by Tero Similae over team mate Lari Lehtonen. Norway’s Thomas Vestboe was third. American Noah Hoffman finished in 40th.

For the fourth consecutive year, Latvia, a small country located across the Baltic straight from Scandinavia, has hosted the Scandinavian Cup. In 2008, the event took place in Riga, the Latvian capital, and in 2009 and 2010, it moved 50km northeast to Sigulda. This year, Madona, 150km east of Riga, played host to the Scandi Cup featuring 150 athletes from 15 countries – more than 1/2 come from Norway and Sweden with about 30 Latvians also competing.

Next on the schedule on Feb 5-6 is a classic Sprint and 10/15km classic races. Also on the FIS calendar this weekend is the World Cup in Rybinsk, Russia, February 4-6.

Women’s results HERE. (top 22 only)
Men’s results HERE.

Watch video footage HERE.