March 24, 2013 (Falun, Sweden) – Start 15th, finish 15th. What could be easier…? When the USA’s Kikkan Randall leaves the start line in the women’s 10km FR Pursuit race on Sunday, the final women’s contest of the season, she could be racing her way into the record books. Randall sits in 3rd place in the overall World Cup standings and is poised to make history as no American woman has ever finished in the top 3 overall. Only one man has finished in the top 3…Bill Koch won the overall World Cup in 1982 and finished 3rd in 1983.

Randall poised to make history... © Nordic Focus

Randall was 5th last year and has her work cut out for her on Sunday. Add to the mix double points for Sunday’s races and things heat up pretty fast – FIS Rules HERE. Kristin Stoermer Steira (NOR) is the closest to her at 112 behind with 1,006 points vs Randall’s 1,118 points but the American should have no problem fending off a challenge from Steira.

A more serious threat is Marit Bjoergen also from Norway with 948 points. If Bjoergen wins as expected she’ll have a 30-point lead over Randall which means the American must finish at least 15th to earn 32 points. And if there’s a tie, the skier with most World Cup wins will get the nod – meaning Bjoergen. A wild card in the mix is rising Norwegian star Heidi Weng in 5th overall with 985 points and if she has a good day the final outcome will get very interesting.

Randall starts Sunday’s pursuit in 15th at 2:52 behind Bjoergen who has a 46-second lead over Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) who announced that she is not starting on Sunday. The Polish star has already won the overall WCup series title and the Distance title and has nothing to prove on Sunday…but she’s passing up a potential 20,000+ Swiss Francs so the speculation is health reasons.

“It’s going to be a real battle tomorrow for me to score enough points to stay ahead of both Bjoergen and Weng.  I would love to hang on for third place overall.  I must fight for every place tomorrow,” Randall told Trax.

Stay tuned for history in the making…

Women’s results HERE.
Mini Tour standings HERE.
World Cup Distance Overall HERE.
World Cup Overall HERE.