Russia and Germany on top of World Jr Sprint podiums

• *Source: nordic.usskiteam.com

  SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah (Jan. 30, 2017) - Germany’s junior ski racers dominated opening day of the USANA FIS Junior Nordic World Championships at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center.

  Janosch Brugger of Germany came from behind to take Norway’s Petter Stakston at the finish line in the classic sprint. Norway’s Herman Meyer won bronze. In the women’s sprint, Polina Nekrasova of Russia took gold over Germany’s Antonia Froebel in silver and Coletta Rydzek with bronze. The races were run under clear blue skies, hard packed snow and cold temperatures on the trails used for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

• It was a tough loss for Stakston, who was the fastest qualifier and won both his quarterfinal and semifinal heats. Brugger, meanwhile, had to some luck out of the semifinals as a lucky loser to earn his spot in the finals. Stakston had the lead coming into the finish, but Brugger put on a strong push into the finish to take the win.

• Nekrasova, who qualified 10th, established herself early as the top athlete in the women’s field. In the opening heat, the Russian won over a strong effort by American Julia Kern by just .19. In the semifinals, Nekrasov won over Finland’s Anita Korva, also by .19. And she ran away in the finals for a 3.56 second margin of victory. It was her first individual Junior Worlds medal, going with the bronze she won in the relay event two years ago in Rasnov.

• Tuesday the U23 World Championships open with a classic sprint. The juniors are back in action Wednesday with a 10k freestyle for men and 5k for women.

• OFFICIAL RESULTS - Junior Sprint classic

LADIES

1. NEKRASOVA Polina RUS 3:34.60
2. FRAEBEL Antonia GER +3.56
3. RYDZEK Coletta GER +4.58
4. KORVA Anita FIN +8.15
5. MYHRVOLD Mathilde NOR +14.57
6. RIBOM Emma SWE +21.80

Complete results are available HERE.

MEN

1. BRUGGER, Janosch GER 3:43.00
2. STAKSTON, Petter NOR +0.04
3. MEYER, Herman Mart NOR +3.83
4. LARSEN, Thomas Hell NOR +11.32
5. SUHONEN, Verneri FIN +12.97
6. SVINSAAS, Jo NOR +16.42

Complete results are available .

Times and Results from top 30 heats available for both ladies and men HERE.

ATHLETE QUOTES

Janosch Brugger (gold)
I didn’t have any strategy - just pushing as hard as I can. It means everything to me - on this day you’re the best in the world. It means a lot because our coach competed here in 2002. For him and for us, it’s special to race here today.

Petter Stakston (silver)
I felt very good today. I was strong in the prologue. I tried to catch a lead in every single heat and go as fast as I could. I feel in the last 100 meters Janosch [Brugger] was stronger. Overall I’m very happy.

Herman Meyer (bronze)
It was great skiing here in Utah. It was awesome - the beautiful weather, the beautiful nature. I had good skis and everything was very exciting today. The sprint track treated me very well and I got stronger and stronger for each heat. It was a goal for me to come here and compete for Norway. That’s really tough so being here is really awesome for me.

Antonia Fraebel (silver)
I haven’t got any words. I’m unbelievably happy and I’m so happy that my friend Coletta is with me on the podium.

Coletta Rydzek (bronze)
It was a very tough race from the beginning. It was hard because it’s very uphill. It’s very nice and with the ending I’m more than happy. The course is very, very hard. We are a bit higher than we are used to. There aren’t many places to chill on this course.

Watch every event of the 2017 USANA FIS Nordic Junior and U23 World Ski Championships LIVE from Utah's 2002 Olympic venues through Feb. 5.