Saxton 6th at U23 Worlds classic sprint
Wed, Feb 4, 2015 - By USSA
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (Feb 3, 2015)- Ben Saxton (Lakeville, MN) finished sixth Tuesady in the Under-23 World Championship Classic sprint, believed to be the best finish by an American man at U23 Worlds. Saxton qualified in 10th position before advancing through the rounds, first with a sharp finish in his quarter final and then as a lucky loser in a hard fought semi final. A brief stumble kept him out of podium contention, but his effort was a career day for the U.S. Ski Team member.
“I raced the best in the world and I held my own,” Saxton said of his effort. “(There was) an unfortunate series of events that caused me to pole between my own two legs, but I’m happy.”
This is the first international final for the SMS/T2 skier. Saxton finished second in the classic sprint at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Houghton, MI in early January.
Ben Saxton (right) charges to the front of a pack en route to a record sixth place finish in the U23 World Championships in Almaty.
HIGHLIGHTS
Ben Saxton qualified 10th and finished sixth in Tuesday’s classic sprint event at the U23 Championships held in Almaty, Kazakhstan for what is believed to be the best U.S. men's finish ever at the event.
Almaty is one of two candidates for the 2022 Winter Olympics
QUOTES
Ben Saxton
I raced the best in the world and I held my own.
Over the past two years Simi Hamilton and Andy Newell have put up with me every day, and taught me almost everything I know about ski racing. They took the time to teach me, and cared about whether or not I became better both as a skier, and as a person. Day in and day out, they made me a smarter, faster skier, reminded me to LOVE what I'm doing, and taught me to believe that I was good enough to race with the big boys.
RESULTS