Laura Valaas Takes 2nd in U23 Worlds Sprint
FIS Junior World Ski Championships
Tue, Mar 13, 2007 - By Mondiali Juniores & FIS
The schedule on the 2nd day of the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships and U-23 Cross-Country World Ski Championships in Tarvisio (ITA) Tuesday included the individual sprint competitions in the U-23 category. In the ladies' race, staged in the classical technique, the victory went to Alena Prochazkova of Slovakia. The 22-year-old Slovak was followed by Laura Valaas (USA) and Piret Pormeister of Estonia.
Laura Valaas (USA)
The U23 male final race has been a heart-stopping race: the victory came only in the last few centimetres of the 1,3km long track of Fusine. Fifteen hundredth of a second - half the size of a shoe - separated 1st and second. Sweden took a double victory as Robin Bryntesson took the top spot, followed by Marcus Hellner.
Bryntesson posted his career-best result last weekend at the Lahti Ski Games where he ranked 15th in the World Cup sprint. Marcus Hellner finished 9th in the 15 km race in Sapporo some two weeks ago, and also won bronze with the Swedish men's relay team. Matias Strandvall of Finland – ninth in the sprint in Sapporo - collected the bronze medal.
The competitions continue Wednesday with the 5km and 10km competitions in the free technique for the Juniors as well as the individual Gundersen event in Nordic Combined.
Full Results from the U-23 World Sprint Race:
Champion Bryntesson relieves tension and expresses happiness with an athletic sommersault.
(Photos Mondiali Juniores)