Junior World Champion title for Barthelemy and Halfvarsson

Sun, Feb  24, 2008 - By FIS

Junior World Champion title for Barthelemy and Halfvarsson

Laure Barthelemy from France and the Swede Calle Halfvarsson are the winner in the Sprint competition in the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Malles (ITA).

The 19-year-old Laure Barthelemy won the Junior World Championships title in the Sprint competition on the 1,3 km course in Malles ahead of her team mate Aurelie Dabudyk. The second place took the only 17-year-old Lucia Anger from Germany. Her team mate, the 16-year-old Hanna Kolb edged out from the podium, finishing fourth. Also in the final skied Marina Matrosova (KAZ, 5th place) and Manon Locatelli (FRA, 6th place).

In the men's race, Calle Halfvarsson managed his first Junior World Champion title ahead of his team mate Jesper Modin. On third finished Raul Shakirzianov from Russia. The Canadian Alex Harvey, the son for the three times World Cup winner Pierre Harvey, took the fourth place while Bastien Poirrier from France finished 5th and Andrey Feller 6th.

The conditions in Malles were good, + 5 degrees and sunny weather.

Tomorrow the U23 Sprint competitions for both genders are on the schedule in Malles.

Please check for the detailed results: http://www.mals.it

Quotes:

Laure Barthelemy (FRA):

“I was so surprised; I didn't expect that I could win the race and getting Sprint World Champion. Normally this race was planned for coming into the World Championships rhythm and my goals were to attack in the long distance races. But I am very happy that it worked so well for me and as well for my colleague Aurelie. The track war tough and also the high altitude is not so easy but now I am double motivated for the rest of the World Championships.”

Calle Halfvarsson (SWE)

„I'm World Champion -unbelievable. The race was optimal, I had super ski's and this kind of course fit's me very well. That I can took the victory, I didn't believe myself before. And now, also Jesper Modin finished on the podium right behind me – I'm very satisfied!”