Moscow, Russia – On a day that saw three American women square off in the semifinals, young Jessie Diggins led the USA with a career best sixth in zero temperatures Thursday in the Moscow FIS World Cup women’s cross country skiing sprints won by Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, as  Sweden’s Teodor Peterson took the men’s title.

FIS World Cup sprint leader Kikkan Randall, of Anchorage, Alaska was seventh, failing to make finals in a close semifinal finish. Orelans, Vt.’s Ida Sargent had a career best 12th. It was the first time that three Americans had made the semifinals.

“In the semifinals, it was really cool to have the U.S. be 1-2-3 for so long,” said Diggins, who led qualifying by a huge 2.47-second margin, taking second by a photo finish in the quarter-finals and winning her semifinal heat. In the finals, Diggins held her own in podium position through most of the race before giving ground in the finishing stretch. It was only her fourth World Cup individual sprint and only second time she had qualified for the heats.

“I had no idea – no idea on where I stood (in qualifications),” said Diggins. “The course was really long and hard – it was cold and with new snow skied a lot longer. There were two pretty steep but short bridges. You had to be ready to change up your pace. Our wax techs did such a good job – our skis were awesome. You had to pace it a little bit so you didn’t blow up for the wax bridge.

“After Milan I realized that if you’re really aggressive it’s easy to fall. I wanted to stay out of trouble. So I skied out front. It might not have been the smartest thing to do as I was out of energy for the finals. But I had no idea I was going to make it.”

Randall, who had been sick earlier in the week, skied well and was second in her quarterfinal heat. She and Diggins had set the pace in the semis before Russian Natalia Korosteleva caught her for second right at the finish line. Randall slightly extended her World Cup sprint lead over Natalia Matveeva, who went out in the quarterfinals, with more than a 100 point margin. Randall remained fourth in the World Cup overall.

“I had stomach flu earlier in the week and wasn’t sure how I would do. But I was happy with the qualifier,” said Randall. “I’m happy to still be in the red jersey – it’s been quite an honor to wear it for so many weekends. (Poland’s Justyna) Kowalczyk has been sneaking up and will be someone to contend with in the final stretch of the season. I hope I can get back to my top race form. We have one skate and three classic sprints now to the end of the season.”

In the men’s competition Andy Newell, of Shaftsbury, Vt., qualified 16th but went out in the quarterfinals and finished 22nd. Aspen, Colo.’s Simi Hamilton missed qualifying by one spot in 31st.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Cross Country World Cup
Moscow, Russia – Feb. 2, 2012
Sprints

Women:

Men: