GAELLIVARE, Sweden (Nov. 25) – The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team made history Sunday, scoring its first ever FIS World Cup relay podium in a women’s 4x5k team event in Gaellivare. Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) outsprinted Norway II into the finish to claim third with Norway taking the win over Sweden. After a solid opening classic leg by Holly Brooks (Anchorage), Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) put the team into podium position with a powerful freestyle leg by Liz Stephen (E. Montpelier, VT) setting the stage for Diggins to bring home the podium.
![US women on the podium for the first time in the women's relay](../../Racing/2012/First-relay-podium-finish-for-us.jpg)
Jessie Diggins, Holly Brooks and Kikkan Randall erupt in joy as the U.S. Women's Cross Country Ski Team scored an historic first ever FIS World Cup relay podium. (Getty Images/AFP-Jonas Ekstromer)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team scored an historic first ever relay podium in a women’s 4x5k team event in Gaellivare.
- Norway I, anchored by Olympic champion Marit Bjoergen, took a solid win with a 19.6 margin over Sweden with Olympic champion Charlotte Kalla skiing final leg. Jessie Diggins skied anchor for the USA finishing 8.8 seconds behind Sweden and a half second ahead of a hard charging Norway II.
- Holly Brooks (Anchorage) opened the first of two classic legs with a solid performance, 11.2 seconds out in eighth.
- Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) moved the USA into clear podium position with the fastest leg time and into second, 8.2 seconds behind Norway I.
- Liz Stephen (E. Montpelier, VT) skied a powerful opening freestyle leg to expand the lead over Sweden and come within 4.2 seconds of Norway I at the handoff to Diggins.
- Diggins went out anchoring knowing that Kalla would likely move up to second, but kept a focus on a head-to-head battle with Norway II, earning the podium for the USA with a strong finish sprint.
- The U.S. women had scored a previous best last winter in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic finishing fifth without an ailing Randall.
- The U.S. men were 15th in the 4x7.5 relay.
- The World Cup now heads to Kuusamo, Finland for the opening sprints of the season.
QUOTES
Jessie Diggins, anchor leg (freestyle)
I truly believe that our result today has everything to do with this team having such a strong group atmosphere - we all support and push each other to be our best every day. I know I race faster when I feel like I'm a part of an amazing group of women. We skied our hearts out and I am so proud to be a part of something this big.
RESULTS
Official Results