Hoffman leads U.S. charge at U23 Worlds

FIS Junior World Nordic Ski Championships

Thu, Jan  27, 2011 - By US Ski Team

OTEPAA, Estonia (Jan. 27) - The U.S. Ski Team's Noah Hoffman took ninth in the men's 15k freestyle. This gives the U.S. a strong start at the FIS U23 World Ski Championships in Otepaa, Estonia. 

"Any day we can get an athlete in the top 10 is a great day," said U23 Cross Country Coach Matt Whitcomb. "I'm happy with Noah's race, that being said it wasn't his best race…but he caught a pretty nice ride and skied back into it."

Building upon his U.S. SuperTour victory in Lake Placid, NY earlier this month, Hoffman raced to a 36:42.4 on the pristine Otepaa course, just over a minute behind winner Evgeniy Belov of Russia. The U.S. also saw Central Cross Country Skiing's Tad Elliot (Durango, CO) race to 19th and University of Alaska-Fairbanks's Alexander Treinen (Anchorage) to 35th.

In the women's 10k freestyle, American Sadie Bjornsen (Methow, WA) of Alaska Pacific University took 23rd with a time of 29:31.1, followed closely by University of Vermont's Caitlin Patterson (Anchorage) in 26th and Alaska Pacific University's Rebecca Rorabaugh (Hanover, NH) in 29th.

"Today's race was very fair," said Whitcomb. "We had great conditions and really good skis prepared by the wax staff. The organizers pulled off a great race."

Next up for the U.S. Nordic Team are the classic pursuit races on Monday, Jan. 31.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS U23 World Nordic Championships
Otepaa, Estonia – Jan. 27, 2011
Cross Country 15/10k Free

Men's 15k
Gold: Evgeniy Belov, Russia 35:26.3
Silver: Pavel Vikulin, Russia 35:42.4
Bronze: Raul Shakirzianov, Russia 35:49.7
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9. Noah Hoffman, Aspen, CO (Aspen Valley Ski Club) 36:42.4
19. Tad Elliot, Durango, CO (Central Cross Country Skiing) 37:18.3
35. Alex Treinen, Anchorage (University of Alaska-Fairbanks) 38:04.9

Women's 10k
Gold: Krista Lahteenmaki, Finland 26:33.3
Silver: Mariya Guschina, Russia 27:33.3
Bronze: Hilde Guschina, Norway 27:35.1
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23. Sadie Bjornsen, Methow, WA (Alaska Pacific University) 29:31.1
26. Caitlin Patterson, Anchorage (University of Vermont) 29:34.8
29. Rebecca Rorabaugh, Hanover, NH (Alaska Pacific University) 30:25.6

For complete results: fis-ski.com