Brennan Wins First World Cup, Leads Huge Day For USA
Rosie Brennan not only surprised herself in winning her first FIS Cross Country World Cup race of her career but she led an impressive day for the Davis U.S. Cross Country Team Saturday in Davos, Switzerland.
“It’s wild,” Rosie said after winning the freestyle sprint, and leading five U.S. women into the points. “I have never considered myself a sprinter, so to find myself on the podium in a sprint is something I honestly didn’t even dream of. I was thinking about (tomorrow’s 10k freestyle), so this is just incredible.”
To say the Davis U.S. Cross Country Team had a great day in Saturday’s sprint is an understatement. Ten Americans scored World Cup Points, including Logan Hanneman, who posted a career-best World Cup result in ninth; Kevin Bolger in 13th; Simi Hamilton in 14th; JC Schoonmaker, who posted the fifth-fastest qualifying time, finishing a career-best 18th; and Gus Schumacher with a career-best sprint result in 25th.
In addition to Rosie’s win, Sophie Caldwell Hamilton also advanced to the finals and finished fifth; Julia Kern was 11th; Jessie Diggins 13th; and Hailey Swirbul was 19th. Hannah Halvorsen finished 38th in her return to World Cup racing.
“Today was definitely a step in the right direction for me personally and an incredible day for the team as a whole,” Sophie said. “It was amazing to watch Rosie get her first World Cup win, have Hannah back racing, and have ten men and women qualify for the heats.”
After posting the fastest qualifying time, Rosie finished second in her opening quarterfinal heat. In the semi-final round Rosie, Sophie, and Julia were all seeded in the first heat, which turned out to be the fastest of the two semi-final heats as Rosie and Sophie finished third and fourth, but advanced to the finals as Lucky Losers. In the final, Rosie attacked the second lap climb and turned on her sprint to the finish for the victory, letting out a joyous scream as she crossed the line. Slovenia’s Anamarija Lampic was second, and Russia’s Natalia Nepryaeva was third.
With her victory, Rosie moved into the lead in the World Cup sprint standings, and up to third in the overall World Cup standings. Up next, the women compete in a 10k individual start freestyle, and the men compete in a 15k individual start freestyle.
RESULTS
Women’s freestyle sprint
Men’s freestyle sprint
STANDINGS
Women’s World Cup Overall
Men’s World Cup Overall
HOW TO WATCH
Saturday, Dec. 12
11:00 a.m. FIS Cross Country World Cup Men and Women's Sprint - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Davos SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel
Sunday, Dec. 13
4:45 a.m. FIS Cross Country World Cup Women's 10k - LIVE, Davos, SUI, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Cross Country World Cup Men's 15k - LIVE, Davos, SUI, Streaming Peacock
Monday, Dec. 14
12:00 a.m. FIS Cross Country World Cup Women's 10k - Same Day Broadcast, Davos, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
Anamarija Lampic (left), Rosie Brennan, and Natalia Nepryaeva celebrate their podium performance in Saturday's FIS World Cup Cross Country, sprint in Davos, Switzerland. (Modica/NordicFocus)
JC Schoonmaker posted the fifth-fastest qualifying time Saturday in Davos. (Modica/NordicFocus)
Hannah Halvorsen returned to racing for the first time in more than a year, finishing 38th in Saturday's qualifying. (Modica/NordicFocus)
Rosie Brennan competes during the Women's FIS Cross Country World Cup sprint in Davos, Switzerland, on December 12, 2020. (Getty Images/Nordic Focus - Federico Modica)
