Gaellivare, Sweden – The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team made history on Sunday, scoring its first ever FIS World Cup relay podium in a women’s 4x5k team event in Gaellivare. Jessie Diggins outsprinted Norway II into the finish to claim third with Norway I, anchored by Olympic champion Marit Bjoergen, taking the win over Sweden with Olympic champion Charlotte Kalla skiing the final leg.

“Our women’s team sat down last spring and drew up some goals, one of which as a relay podium sometime this season. Little did we know that we would accomplish it on our first try!” said team member Holly Brooks, of Anchorage, Alaska.  “We shed lots of tears today as a group and they were tears of joy. The day, the result, everything was truly a group effort.”

After a solid opening classic leg by Brooks 11.2 seconds out in eighth, Kikkan Randall put the team into podium position with the fastest leg time and into second, 8.2 seconds behind Norway I. A powerful freestyle leg by Liz Stephen expanding the lead over Sweden and putting the team within 4.2 seconds of Norway I set the stage for Diggins to bring home the podium.

Diggins went out anchoring knowing that Kalla would likely move up to second, but kept a focus on a head-to-head battle with Norway II, earning the podium for the USA with a strong finish sprint.

“I truly believe that our result today has everything to do with this team having such a strong group atmosphere – we all support and push each other to be our best every day,” said Diggins. “I know I race faster when I feel like I’m a part of an amazing group of women. We skied our hearts out and I am so proud to be a part of something this big.”

The U.S. women had scored a previous best last winter in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic finishing fifth without an ailing Randall.

The U.S. men finished 15th on Sunday in the 4×7.5 relay won by Norway I. Sweden I finished second, followed by Russia I.

The World Cup now heads to Kuusamo, Finland for the opening sprints of the season.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Cross Country World Cup
Gaellivare, Sweden – Nov. 25, 2012

Women’s 4x5km Relay

Men’s 4×7.5km Relay