Newell and Hamilton 5th in classic team sprint
World Cup: Nove Mesto
Mon, Jan 13, 2014 - By USSA
NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic (Jan. 12) – Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) anchored an impressive team effort with Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO) to break into the top five in the FIS World Cup classic team sprint Sunday in Nove Mesto. The Russia 1 team took the team victory. Sophie Caldwell (Peru, VT) teamed up with Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) to take sixth in the women’s sprint behind the winning team, Norway 1. The athletes head to Poland next for freestyle sprints and a 15k/10k classic race in Szklarska Poreba.
Andy Newell chases Emil Joensson of team Sweden 2. Newell and Simi Hamilton went on to finish fifth in the team sprints Sunday in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. (Getty Images/AFP/Michal Cizek)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) anchored an impressive team effort with Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO) to break into the top five in the FIS World Cup classic team sprint Sunday in Nove Mesto.
- Russians Maxim Vylegzhanin and Nikita Kriukov took the team victory.
- Sophie Caldwell (Peru, VT) teamed up with Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) to take sixth in the women’s sprint behind winners Maiken Caspersen Falla and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg of Norway.
- World Champions Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) and Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) took a strategic rest and sat out Sunday’s competition. Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) felt under the weather and opted out.
- This was the final weekend for athletes to obtain World Cup points in the Olympic selection period, with the skiers currently ranked top 50 in the World Cup sprint and distance standings being eligible for a nomination. Selection is still open through Jan. 19 in FIS points rankings to determine the rest of the team that will be nominated Jan. 22.
- The athletes head to Poland next for freestyle sprints and a 15k/10k classic race in Szklarska Poreba.
QUOTES
Chris Grover, Head Cross Country Coach
Great skiing by the U.S. men and women today. I can't remember the last time our men were as high as fifth in this event. But this has been a target event for the men, so it’s nice to see it's coming together. Next stop Sochi.
Both Simi and Andy skied really strong legs all day and skied super heads-up to avoid some crashes. Simi twice dodged having his pole broken by another competitor. We have a little work to do to get to the podium level right now but we have the potential to get there.
Great skiing by the ladies as well and especially by Sophie, who picked up a placing or two on every round. Both teams avoided the crashes and kept the USA in the mix until the very end of the finals.