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![Kikkan Randall [P] Nordic Focus](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Randall02022014cm43NordicFocus-copy.jpg "Kikkan Randall [P] Nordic Focus")
Kikkan Randall © Nordic Focus
February 03, 2014 (Toblach, Italy) – USA’s Kikkan Randall (USA) finished a strong fifth in yesterday’s women’s 1.3km FR Sprints in Toblach, the final World Cup event before the Olympic Games in Sochi. It was a good day for Norway as Marit Bjoergen (NOR) took the win, followed by Germany’s Denise Hermann (GER) in second and fellow Norge Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg (NOR) in third. Oestberg qualified first, Randall fourth, and Bjoergen 23rd on fast snow.
![Bjoergen wins Women's Sprint FR P] flyingpointroad.com](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Sprint-Winner-Bjoergen_SMF0083.Fuller-copy.jpg "Bjoergen wins Women's Sprint FR P] flyingpointroad.com")
Bjoergen wins Women's Sprint FR P] flyingpointroad.com
“Today was another solid day. Performance was strong through all the rounds, I just didn’t employ the right tactics in the final. I was really happy with fourth in the qualification and pumped to see three of my teammates advance as well,” said Randall.
![Women's podium (l-r) Herrmann 2nd, Bjoergen 1st, Oestberg 3rd [P] flyingpointroad.com](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Womens-Podium_SF33887.Fuller-copy.jpg "Women's podium (l-r) Herrmann 2nd, Bjoergen 1st, Oestberg 3rd [P] flyingpointroad.com")
Women's podium (l-r) Herrmann 2nd, Bjoergen 1st, Oestberg 3rd © flyingpointroad.com
Randall’s Team USA compatriots Sophie Caldwell (USA), Jessie Diggins (USA), and Holly Brooks (USA) qualified 19th, 21st, 27th, respectively to move on to the heats. Canadians Perianne Jones (CAN) and Dasha Gaiazova (CAN) also just squeaked through, qualifying 29th and 30th. All were eliminated in their quarterfinal heats as only Randall advanced to the semis.
Other North Americans Ida Sargent (USA), Chandra Crawford, (CAN), Sadie Bjornsen (USA), Heidi Widmer (CAN), and Caitlin Gregg (USA) did not advance.
![Oestberg... top female qualifier [P] flyingpointroad.com](http://skitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Oestberg_SF31483.Fuller-copy.jpg "Oestberg... top female qualifier [P] flyingpointroad.com")
Oestberg... top female qualifier © flyingpointroad.com
“In the quarters and semis I was able to ski in second most of the course and then come out of the draft to get the lead before the final corner. In the final I tried a different tactic, trying to break up the pack with a surge over the building. The move was ok, but I didn’t get away enough and then up the next hill I hesitated not wanting to lead into the downhill. I ended up not carrying enough momentum into the downhill and got stuck in the middle of the pack,” explained Randall.
Women's final - at the finish... © Nordic Focus
“While I’m definitely bummed not to have been in the fight for the win in the final stretch I am happy with the way I felt today and I probably learned more from the way the race played out. With such a long straight downhill before the finish, this was a very tactical course and a very different one from Sochi. I am looking forward to heading to Russia in a couple days and getting in some good training on the sprint course there,” said Randall.
Qualifications here.
Final results here.