February 4, 2006 – Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) finished 12th Saturday in a World Cup sprint in Switzerland. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) was the top women’s finisher for the U.S. in 28th.

It was a double podium for Sweden as Bjoern Lind won the men’s race and Anna Dahlberg won the women’s race.

Newell, on his way to his first Olympics, has been hot this season. In January, he finished fourth in a German sprint, the best World Cup sprint result posted by a U.S. skier. The best previous U.S. sprint finish had been Newell’s 11th in a freestyle technique sprint Dec. 11 at Sovereign Lake outside Vernon, B.C.

In sprints, the entire field skis over the course in a time trial. The top 30 skiers are broken into five heats of six with the top two skiers in each heat advancing; then two heats of five skiers, and the final foursome.

The Davos World Cup concludes Sunday with a 10k classic race for the women and a 15k classic tilt for the men.

CROSS COUNTRY SPRINT WORLD CUP
Davos, SUI – Feb. 4, 2006
Sprint
Men
1. Bjoern Lind, Sweden
2. Christian Zorzi, Italy
3. John Kristian Dahl, Norway
4. Loris Frasnelli, Italy
5. Boerre Naess, Norway
–
12. Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, Vt.
–
Did not start:
Torin Koos, Salt Lake City, Utah

Women
1. Anna Dahlberg, Sweden
2. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland
3. Chandra Crawford, Canada
4. Ella Gjoemle, Norway
5. Beckie Scott, Canada
–
28. Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, Alaska
38. Wendy Wagner, Park City, Utah
53. Abigail Larson, Bozeman, Mont.