CROSS-COUNTRY:
Valjas, Wider earn World Championships berths after Davos sprint
DAVOS, Switzerland — Canada’s Len Valjas and Phil Widmer punched their ticket to the 2011 World Championships after finishing 17th and 18th in a World Cup cross-country skate-ski sprint in Davos, Switzerland, on Sunday.
The two Canadians were side-by-side all day in Davos, qualifying for the round of 30 in 22nd and 23rd spot, respectively. Toronto’s Valjas and Widmer, of Banff, Alta., both finished fourth in their opening heats, which ended their quest for the podium. The top two in each heat advance to the next round.
“This was a good result for Len and Phil as it qualifies them for a spot at the World Championships,” said Justin Wadsworth, head coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team.
Chandra Crawford was tied for 30th with Sweden’s Ida Ingemarsdotter in the women’s qualifier at 3 minutes, 26.81 seconds. The Swede was granted a spot in the heats based on FIS points.
“It is a long course that pushes the limits of a sprint distance for women and you really have to pace yourself,” said Wadsworth. “Chandra went out pretty fast and that may have cost her at the altitude. She was a little disappointed not to move on.”
Four other Canadians also hit the start line but did not advance to the heats. Daria Gaiazova was 38th in the women’s race. Calgary’s Brent McMurtry was 53rd; Stefan Kuhn was 68th; and Devon Kershaw stumbled to 73rd.
Sweden’s Emil Joensson won the men’s sprint for the second straight week. Joensson shared the podium with Russia’s Alexey Petukhov in the silver-medal position and Switzerland’s Dario Cologna locking up the bronze.
Norway’s Marit Bjoergen grabbed the gold in the women’s race. Italy’s Arianna Follis sprinted to the silver medal, while American Kikkan Randall rounded out the women’s podium for the second straight week after finishing third.
The Canadian team will stay in Davos, Switzerland until Thursday before moving onto La Clusaz, France for the final World Cup before the holiday break. S-Magazine
Davos, Switzerland, World Cup sprint results
Top-5 Men’s Results:
1. Emil Joensson, SWE; 2. Alexey Petukhov, RUS; 3. Dario Cologna, SUI; 4. Fulvio Scola, ITA; 5. Nikolay Morilov, RUS
Canadian Results:
17. Len Valjas, Toronto; 18. Phil Widmer, Banff, Alta.; 53. Brent McMurtry, Calgary; 68. Stefan Kuhn, Canmore, Alta.; 73. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont.
Top-5 Women’s Results:
1. Marit Bjoergen, NOR; 2. Arianna Follis, ITA; 3. Kikkan Randall, USA; 4. Petra Majdic, SLO; 5. Astrid Uhrenholdt, NOR
Canadian Results:
31. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta.; 38. Daria Gaiazova, Banff, Alta.
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