Andy Newell takes 11th in Kuusamo Sprint

American Andy Newell sprinted to an 11th place finish 

American Andy Newell sprinted to an 11th place finish today in Finland—a solid performance, yet the Norwegians swept the podium. Ola Vigen Hattestad, Tor Arne Hetland and John Kristian Dahl finished first, second and third.

"It was a really hard course—because they added another hill. It had the most vertical of any sprint I have done, so it was really hard," Newell says. “Eleventh place wasn't exactly what I was hoping for in the first sprint weekend, just because in the past we've had some good results here. Even so, I think it was good practice to get used to the tactics and the speed.”

Kikkan Randall was the top American woman, finishing less than a second outside of qualification in 33rd. “She just got here under a week ago and I think she's still getting used to being in Europe," coach Vordenberg says. "I feel like she's going to be back where she was last season—and even ahead of that— but it might take a little time."

Slovenia's Petra Majdic won the women's event, followed by Lina Andersson of Sweden in second and Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk in third.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

2009 VIESSMAN CROSS COUNTRY FIS WORLD CUP

Kuusamo, FIN – Nov. 29, 2008

Men's Classic Sprint

1. Ola Vigen Hattestad, Norway

2. Tor Arne Hetland, Norway

3. John Kristian Dahl, Norway

4. Kalle Lassila, Finland

5. Nikolay Morilov, Russia

–

11. Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT

– (top 30 qualify)

35. Torin Koos

66. Chris Cook

Women's Classic Sprint

1. Petra Majdic, Slovenia

2. Lina Andersson, Sweden

3. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland

4. Alena Prochazkova, Slovakia

5. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, Finland

– (top 30 qualify)

33. Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, AK