CANMORE, Canada (March 8, 2016) – In the final sprint of the season, Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) led the U.S. team in a FIS World Cup 1.5k classic sprint, finishing sixth overall Tuesday in the fifth stage of Ski Tour Canada. With three stages remaining, Diggins currently sits sixth overall and Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) is ninth overall.
“It was a hot, sunny and slushy day with amazing fans out there and skiing the final hearing the crowd chanting my name was the coolest feeling,” said Diggins.
Jessica Diggins skied to a sixth-place finish in the 1.5km classic sprint Tuesday in Canmore, Canada. (Getty Images-Trond Tandberg)
In the women’s sprint Norway swept the podium, as Maiken Falla claimed another classic sprint victory to complete her undefeated classic sprint season. Falla dominated the final heat dropping the pack over the top of the second hill in the final lap. Falla finished 7.07 seconds ahead of teammate Astrid Jacobsen and Ingvild Oestberg who was third.
In the men’s sprint, Italy’s Federico Pellegrino grabbed his first-ever classic sprint victory. Pellegrino had the final fight in the last stretch of the sprint, to steal the win 0.54 seconds over Norway’s Erik Brandsdal and France’s Maurice Manificat who finished third.
Sadie Bjornsen finished 18th in the 1.5 km classic sprint and currently sits ninth overall with three stages remaining in the Ski Tour Canada. (Getty Images-Trond Tandberg)
Diggins has not let her fight and determination become fatigued, despite the grueling Tour. Diggins started off the day strong qualifying 13th and then winning her quarterfinal heat where she went head-to-head with Sophie Caldwell (Peru, VT) who snuck into the semifinals as the lucky loser. In the semifinals, Diggins was in a competitive heat, which earned her a lucky loser position after finishing fourth. In the finals, the three Norwegians broke away early, which left Diggins fighting for fourth. In the end, Diggins faded from fourth to sixth as Finland’s Krista Parmakoski and Anne Kylloenen stole fourth and fifth in the final stretch.
“One of my goals going into the season was just to qualify in a classic sprint for the first time, so to make the final and have qualified in every sprint this year feels just wonderful,” she said.
Four U.S. women finished in the top 25 with Diggins leading in sixth, Caldwell just missed the top 10 finishing 11th overall, Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) finished 18th and Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) finished 22nd. Diggins, Caldwell, Bjornsen and Sargent started the day strong as they all qualified in the top 20.
Competition continues Wednesday with a 30/15k skiathlon, which will be streamed live on NBC Sports Extra at 12:00 p.m. EST
STREAMING SCHEDULE (times EST)
Wednesday, March 9
12:00 p.m. - Women’s 15k skiathlon, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
2:30 p.m. - Men’s 30k skiathlon, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
Friday, March 11
11:45 a.m. - Women’s 10k freestyle interval start, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
3:00 p.m. - Men’s 15k freestyle interval start, Canmore - LIVE - NB Sports Live Extra
Saturday, March 12
3:00 p.m. - Women’s 10k classic pursuit, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
4:00 p.m. - Men’s 15k classic pursuit, Canmore - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
HIGHLIGHTS
- Norway’s Heidi Weng still leads the women in the overall Tour standings 3.1 seconds ahead of teammate Therese Johaug.
- Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov still leads the men’s overall Tour standings, 19.5 seconds ahead of Norway’s Petter Northug.
- Jessie Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen lead the overall Tour in sixth and ninth, respectively for the U.S. Team.
- Anne Hart (Stillwater, MN) was the next American, finishing 36th overall, followed by Kaitlynn Miller (Lake Elmore, VT) 38th, Rosie Brennan (Park City, UT) 41st, Caitlin Gregg (Minneapolis, MN) 47th, Jennie Bender (Johnson, VT) 51st, Chelsea Holmes (Girdwood, AK) 57th and Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) 61st.
- Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA) led the U.S. men in 44th, followed by Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO) in 47th, Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT) 52nd, Reese Hanneman (Anchorage, AK) 62nd, Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO) 69th, Scott Patterson (Anchorage, AK) 72nd, Eric Packer (Anchorage, AK) 73rd, Tad Elliot (Durango, CO) 77nd, Dakota Blackhorse-Von Jess (Bend, OR) 78th, Brian Gregg (Minneapolis, MN) 81st, and Matthew Liebsch (Minneapolis, MN) 83rd.
QUOTES
Jessie Diggins
One of my goals going into the season was just to qualify in a classic sprint for the first time, so to make the final and have qualified in every sprint this year feels just wonderful.
It was a hot, sunny and slushy day with amazing fans out there and skiing the final hearing the crowd chanting my name was the coolest feeling.
RESULTS
Men’s 1.5k Sprint
Women’s 1.5k Sprint
OVERALL TOUR STANDINGS (after five races)
Women’s Standings
Men’s Standings
