Freeman leads U.S. skiers in 23rd

World Cup: Davos

Sun, Dec  12, 2010 - By US Ski Team

DAVOS, Switzerland (Dec. 11) - Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) led the U.S. with 23rd in the men's 15k classic World Cup in Davos, while Kazakstan's Alexey Poltaranin clinched the victory. Norwegian Marit Bjoergen continued her impressive streak Saturday with another win in the women’s 10k classic event.

Poltaranin won in 40.03.5, a margin of just nine-tenths over Alexander Legkov of Russia. The ever-dangerous Lukas Bauer of Czech Republic was third. Norwegian defending World Cup champion, Petter Northug made his return to World Cup racing finishing 13th.

"He was having a good race for about 11k and then didn't have a good last 4k, he didn't pace quite right," said Head Coach Chris Grover. "It's still a really solid result, but it for sure wasn't what he was hoping for.

"At that level if you have an average day you are going to fall down the results list 20 places and that's certainly what happened today. I don't think it has so much bearing on what can happen next week, he can be right back up at the top."

Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) was the top American woman.

Competition continues Sunday in Davos with freestyle sprints. Randall and Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) will lead the USA. Randall was on the podium a week ago in a city sprint in Duesseldorf, Germany and seventh in Davos a year ago. Newell has qualified high the past two years in Davos, but gone out early in the heats.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
World Cup
Davos, Switzerland
December 11, 2010
Men’s 15k Classic

1.  Alexey Poltaranin, Kazakstan, 40:03.50
2. Alexander Legkov, Russia, 40.04.40
3. Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic, 40.07.50
4. Dario Cologna, Switzerland, 40.07.80
5. Sami Jauhojaervi, Finland, 40:09.40
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23.  Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 41:23.00
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69. Noah Hoffman, Aspen, CO, 44:25.30
DNS: Chris Cook, Rhinelander, WI

Women’s 10k Classic

1. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 29:31.6
2. Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, 30.00.9
3. Therese Johaug, Norway, 30:10.7
4. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, Finland, 31:08.9
5. Marianna Longo, Italy, 31:11.5
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47.   Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, 33:33.3
48.   Liz Stephen, E. Montpelier, VT, 33:38.0
57.  Morgan Arritola, Sun Valley, ID, 34:14.5

For complete results: www.fis-ski.com