Fredriksson, Neumannova win classic races in Sweden; USST's Freeman 26th{mosimage}USSA -- Kris Freeman was 26th Saturday in a 15km classic technique World Cup race won by defending World Cup champion Mathias Fredriksson of Sweden. Czech Katerina Neumannova won the women's 10km CL and Gabriella Paruzzi of Italy moved into the women's World Cup lead by finishing fourth.

Fredriksson, second to Germany's Rene Sommerfeldt after 18 races this season, was timed in 43:00.8 to defeat Russian Evgenij Dementiev by 7.8 seconds. Freeman, 38th at the 6km mark, finished 26th in 44:28.2.

Neumannova's winning time for her fourth win of the season was 31:47.2 with Paruzzi moving ahead of Estonian Kristina Smigun by 35 points after finishing fourth while Smigun was 18th.

Cross-Country World Cup
Umea, Sweden, February 21, 2004
Men's 15km Classic
1. Mathias Fredriksson, Sweden, 43:00.8
2. Evgenij Dementiev, Russia, 43:08.6
3. Jaak Mae, Estonia, 43:12.5
4. Frode Estil, Norway, 43:22.8
5. Andrei Golovko, Kazakhstan, 43:39.9
Also:
26. Kris Freeman, Andover, N.H., 44:28.2
63. Andrew Johnson, Greensboro, Vt., 47:15.8
68. Justin Freeman, Andover, N.H., 47:29.5
69. Carl Swenson, Park City, Utah, 47:35.4

Women's 10km Classic
1. Katerina Neumannova, Czech Republic, 31:47.2
2. Hilde G. Pedersen, Norway, 32:02.5
3. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 32:10.6
4. Gabriella Paruzzi, Italy, 32:20.3
5. Valentina Shevchenko, Ukraine, 32:21.4
Also:
62. Wendy Wagner, Park City, Utah, 36:21.1