Cross Country: Norway sweeps men’s final sprint podium, Majdic takes women’s

By Published On: March 18th, 2009Comments Off on Cross Country: Norway sweeps men’s final sprint podium, Majdic takes women’s

Norway swept the men’s podium today at the cross country World Cup sprint finals in Stockholm, Sweden. They were led by Johan Kjoelstad with his first World Cup win in two years, to go along with his gold and silver World Championship medals won last month in Liberec. Teammates John Kristian Dahl and Eldar Joensson joined him on the podium in second and third, respectively. Their countryman and sprint titleholder, Ola Vigen Hattestad finished ninth.

Americans Andy Newell and Torin Koos both had solid results in ninth and 14th, respectively. It was Newell’s fifth top-ten finish of the season, while Koos raked in his seventh top-20 result.

It was more of the same on the women’s side, as sprint titleholder and overall leader, Slovenia’s Petra Majdic took the final win of the season for her ninth victory of 2009.

The women’s podium was a bit more diverse as Finn Aino-Kaisa grabbed her tenth World Cup podium of the year, followed by Sweden’s Anna Saarinen in third.

World Championship sliver medalist Kikkan Randall was the lone yank to compete, matching her bib number in 33rd.   

Both Majdic and Hattestad clenched their second consecutive sprint titles March 7 in Lahti, Finland.

The racers will now pack up and head to Falun, Sweden for the 2009 cross country distance finals March 20-23.

For complete results click here.

Norway swept the men’s podium today at the cross country World Cup sprint finals in Stockholm, Sweden. They were led by Johan Kjoelstad with his first World Cup win in two years, to go along with his gold and silver World Championship medals won last month in Liberec. Teammates John Kristian Dahl and Eldar Joensson joined him on the podium in second and third, respectively. Their countryman and sprint titleholder, Ola Vigen Hattestad finished ninth.

Americans Andy Newell and Torin Koos both had solid results in ninth and 14th, respectively. It was Newell’s fifth top-ten finish of the season, while Koos raked in his seventh top-20 result.

“It’s good to be back in the top 10,” Newell said. “The past two weeks have been a bit of a struggle to get back into good racing form, so I think I’m getting my feet back under me.”

It was more of the same on the women’s side, as sprint titleholder and overall leader, Slovenia’s Petra Majdic took the final win of the season for her ninth victory of 2009.

The women’s podium was a bit more diverse as Finn Aino-Kaisa grabbed her tenth World Cup podium of the year, followed by Sweden’s Anna Saarinen in third.

World Championship sliver medalist Kikkan Randall was the lone yank to compete, matching her bib number in 33rd.  

Both Majdic and Hattestad clenched their second consecutive sprint titles March 7 in Lahti, Finland.

The racers will now pack up and head to Falun, Sweden for the 2009 cross country distance finals March 20-23.

For complete results click here.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh