Randall gets career-best classic finish

World Cup: Szklarska Poreba

Sat, Feb  18, 2012 - By USSA

SZKLARSKA POREBA, Poland (Feb. 18) - Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) skied to a career best classical technique distance event, finishing eighth in a 10k FIS Cross Country World Cup in Szklarska Poreba. Thousands of Polish fans turned out to see national hero Justyna Kowalcyk win a day after Randall knocked her out in the quarterfinals of the sprint, and move into the World Cup lead. Randall's finish secured her in fourth in the overall World Cup standings. Johann Olson of Sweden won the men's 15k.

Kikkan Randall skied to a career best classical technique distance event, finishing eighth in Szklarska Poreba. She is shown here racing the day before. (Getty Images/AFP - Raigo Pajula)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) skied to a career best classic distance finish in eighth as Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk won to takeover the World Cup lead.
• Randall left the weekend in Poland back in fourth in the overall World Cup standings and in the sprint lead.
• Career best non-sprint World Cup for Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) in 26th
• Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO) led the men in 31st, just missing the points.
• The circuit takes a one-week break before resuming in March in Lahti, Finland.

QUOTES
Kikkan Randall
Today was a career best individual start classic race for me. This result confirmed that I am back in form after dealing with some illness the last two weeks. (I am) now looking forward to some training and sunshine in Davos, Switzerland over the next two weeks before the final period of World Cup.

The skiing conditions were super tricky but I think we made an excellent decision on ski choice.

It was super tight with a couple skiers, we were within a second over most of the race.  In the end I missed a couple places by just two seconds, but overall I am super happy with the result.

RESULTS
Official Results