KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (Feb. 13) - Temperatures topping 50 degrees made for soft conditions and tank top skiing as Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) led the USA in the 10k classic at the Laura Cross Country Center. Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk won the race as athletes skied in short sleeves and hatless in the relentless sun. The 10k race is set to air on NBC’s Latenight Olympic coverage Thursday night at 12:00 a.m. EST, and it can be streamed in its entirety on NBCOlympics.com. The men's 15k is set for Friday with the women's 4x5k relay Saturday.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) led Team USA in the women's 10k classic finishing 18th.
- Temperatures over 50 degrees Fahrenheit created soft snow and sloppy conditions.
- Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk took gold with Sweden's Charlotte Kalla silver and Norway's Therese Johaug bronze.
- Sophie Caldwell (Peru, VT) was 32nd, Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) 34th and Holly Brooks (Anchorage) 35th.
- The 10k race is set to air on NBC’s Latenight Olympic coverage Thursday night at 12:00 a.m. EST, and it can be streamed in its entirety on NBCOlympics.com.
- The men race 15k classic on Friday with the women's 4x5k relay on Saturday.
QUOTES
Sadie Bjornsen
Today was super fun. It was one of those days where you really had to push your mind and your brain. That last kilometer and a half to the finish was where you were makin' or breakin'.
Sophie Caldwell
I felt really good at the beginning. I tried to pace myself because it was a tough course with a little bit of altitude. So I tried to start out conservative. I did but it catch up to me at the end.
The conditions are pretty crazy. It's the warmest and softest I've skied in in a while. But our coaches and techs did a great job in keeping it simple I had awesome skis with plenty of kick
Ida Sargent
I was having flashbacks to Holmenkollen a few years ago when it was hot and slushy. It was a bummer to have it happen at the Olympics but that's what makes ski racing exciting.
Holly Brooks
It was fun. The climb from the bottom to the top hurt really, really bad. There's so much rest on the first 5k. A lot of the downhills take you right into the uphills. The second 5k was much tougher.
RESULTS
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