Nove Mesto, Czech Republic – A strong team effort, combined with a stunning anchor leg by Minnesota’s World Cup rookie Jessie Diggins, sent the U.S. women into fifth place in a 4x5k classic technique relay at the FIS Cross Country World Cup on Sunday in Nove Mesto. It is the best U.S. women’s World Cup finish ever.

The performance came without the services of team leader Kikkan Randall, of Anchorage, Alaska, who sat out the weekend to rest a cold. Norway took the top spots for both the women and the men.

“I was so incredibly proud of our team today – racers, athletes cheering, coaches, wax techs,” said Diggins. “Everyone was a little tired after yesterday and it was so amazing how everyone just woke up ready to give this race everything they had. My Salomon skis were unreal today – our team nailed it and I’m positive we had the fastest boards of the day!

Anchorage’s Holly Brooks led off, handing to Vermonters Ida Sargent and Liz Stephen, with Jessie Diggins anchoring with a strong team performance by all four athletes. All dressed for fun in knee-high striped USA socks and put on some USA face paint. Diggins matched up with Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla on the anchor and had the fastest leg time.

“One of the benefits of being anchor leg is only having to do one tag off, which is always good news for me,” Diggins continued. “As soon as Liz (Stephen) came through the tag zone and I realized I was right behind (Sweden’s Charlotte) Kalla. I threw my plans of ‘skiing my own race’ out the window and proceeded to glue myself to Kalla. It was great to ski with her and though I couldn’t get around her in time to pull a great sprint at the end, I’m psyched out of my mind to have been in a photo finish with Charlotte Kalla!”

U.S. men finished in 12th place.

“Today was a great rebound from Saturday and an entirely different level of energy put forth by the team,” said Matt Whitcomb, U.S. Ski Team World Cup Women’s Head Coach. “To be able to sit Kikkan today as she recovers from her cold and still put together a result like this is a good snapshot of the strength of these ladies. We are moving forward with big visions for the next relay. And we’re leaving the weekend with a healthy team.”

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Cross Country World Cup
Nove Mesto, Czech Republic – Feb. 12, 2012

Men’s 4x5km Relay:

Women’s 4x10km Relay: