Ogden Top U.S Finisher in 13th at Junior Worlds

RASNOV, Romania (Feb. 23, 2016) – Warm temperatures greeted the athletes and coaches on day two of competition for the FIS Nordic World Junior and U23 Championships, making for very tough classic races. Despite the conditions, two U.S. Junior women skied to a top 20 finish in a 5k classic individual start and three U.S. U23 men were in the top 30 in a 15k individual classic race.

In the U23 women’s 10k classic individual start, Russia’s Anastasia Sedova snatched first from Germany’s Victoria Carl by 13.1 seconds, followed by Czech Republic’s Petra Novakova in third. The U23 U.S. women all finished within one minute of each other and powered through tough, warm conditions. Heather Mooney (Craftsbury Common, VT, Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club) led the women in 38th followed close behind by Kristen Bourne (Lake Elmo, MN, Northern Michigan University) in 40th, Felicia Gesior (Marquette, MI, Northern Michigan University) in 42nd and Kelsey Phinney (Middlebury, VT, Middlebury College Ski Team) in 44th.

Sweden’s Jens Burman dominated the U23 men’s 15k classic individual start, claiming the victory 26.8 seconds ahead of Russia’s Alexey Chervotkin and Norway’s Mikael Gunnulfsen in third. Three U23 U.S. men were in the top 30 as Adam Martin (Marquette, MI, Northern Michigan University) led the team in 23rd; Patrick Caldwell (Lyme Center, NH, Stratton Mountain School) finished close behind in 27th followed by Kyle Bratrud (Eden Prairie, MN, CXC Team) in 29th.

In the junior women’s 5k classic, Norway’s Marte Johansen grabbed first by just 5.3 seconds over teammate Lotta Weng in second. Germany’s Antonia Fraebel was third. Two U.S. juniors skied to top 20 finishes, including Katharine Ogden (Landgrove, VT, Stratton Mountain School) in 13th and Julia Kern (Waltham, MA, Stratton Mountain School) in 18th.  

The junior men’s 10k classic had similar results to the sprints on Monday. Norway’s Johannes Klaebo claimed his second World Juniors victory, defeating Korea’s Magnus Kim once again. Klaebo edged Kim in the sprints on Monday by 0.67 seconds. In the 10k Klaebo finished just 11.2 seconds ahead of Kim and Finland’s Lauri Lepisto who was third. Cully Brown (Durango, CO, University of Vermont) led the U.S. junior men in 35th.

Competition continues for both U23 athletes and junior athletes on Thursday, February 25th. The previously scheduled skiathlon, is being replaced with a 15/10k individual freestyle race for both the U23’s and the juniors. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Race organizers were forced to double up on races on Tuesday, due to rain in the forecast for Wednesday. The U23’s were the only athletes scheduled to race, but the junior races had to be moved to Tuesday.
• Norway’s Johannes Klaebo claimed his second World Juniors victory on Tuesday after winning the 1.3k freestyle sprints on Monday.
• Korea’s Magnus Kim claimed his second, second place finish on Tuesday in the junior men’s 10k classic, after placing second in Monday’s 1.3k freestyle sprints.
• Norway’s Lotta Weng also claimed her second, second place finish on Tuesday in the Junior women’s 5k classic individual start, after finishing second in Monday’s 1.3k freestyle sprints.
• Logan Hanneman (Anchorage, AK, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks) finished 55th in the U23 men’s 15k classic.
• Katharine Ogden led the U.S. junior women in 13th followed by Julia Kern in 18th, Vivian Hett (Burnsville, MN, Northern Michigan University) 48th and Leah Lange (Park City, UT, Utah Olympic Park Sports Clubs/Park City Nordic Ski Club) 52nd.
• Cully Brown led the U.S. junior men in 35th followed by Ian Torchia (Rochester, MN, Northern Michigan University) in 43rd, Thomas O’Harra (Anchorage, AK, APU Nordic Ski Center) 54th and Henry Harmeyer (S. Burlington, VT, University of Vermont) 65th.

RESULTS
Junior Men 10k Classic
Junior Women 5k Classic
U23 Men 15k Classic
U23 Women 10k Classic