Lake Wanaka, New Zealand – Olympic medalists and world champions battled against each other and adverse weather conditions Sunday on day two of the cross country ski racing at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games.

Despite the whiteout and poor visibility racing was fast and furious on the 1605m course for men, 1025m for women and 1km for IPC athletes. The event attracted cross country skiers from the U.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, Peru, Korea, Poland, Australia and New Zealand.

The first round format was time trials as athletes raced against the clock for a position in the next round. Semis and finals pit athletes head to head to determine the final placings, racing with up to four athletes was thrilling especially as they skied down the finish chute.

The women’s final was hotly competed, with the world’s current number one cross country skier, Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, going head to head with twelve-time FIS Ski Champion Natalia Korosteleva of Russia. The winner was determined by a photo finish. Kowalczyk squeaked across the line ahead of Korosteleva by just eight hundredths of a second. Third place went to Russia’s Maria Davydenkova.

Kowalczyk enjoyed the closely fought race even with the tougher conditions. “The weather was very different to yesterday and training this week. It was great to have a great race with Natalia, it was so very close,” she said.

The U.S. filled the men’s podium. Topping the men’s field, Andy Newell of Shaftsbury, Vt. out-sprint teammate Kris Freeman, of Andover, N.H., in the final 200 meters. Aspen, Colo.’s Simeon Hamilton finished third.

Fresh from his win Saturday in the classic cross country racing Newell was pleased with the victory. “They were tough conditions today but made the race challenging. Cross country sprint is very similar to skier cross, only we have the uphills too, the tight finishes make it a real exciting,” said Newell.

New Zealand’s Andrew Pohl was the only kiwi male to proceed to the semi finals, finishing in sixteenth position. In the women’s division Sarah Murphy achieved sixth place.

There were impressive performances from the adaptive athletes in the sprint discipline. In the women’s IPC field Japan’s Shoko Ota achieved her second first of the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games, adding to her win Saturday in the classic racing. Japan’s Yoshihiro Nitta also made it a double, winning the men’s IPC division. Korea’s Vo-Ra-Mi was the sole sit-skier participating and took gold.