Scandinavia on top in U23 opener

*Official press release by Utah2017.com

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah (Jan. 31, 2017) - The USANA FIS U23 Cross Country Championships opened Tuesday at Soldier Hollow, with Scandinavian countries taking the lion’s share of medals.

Norway’s Fredrik Riseth won gold in the men’s classic sprint, with Swede Anna Dyvik victorious for the women. It was the second straight day of sunshine on the 2002 Olympic venue, with temperatures warming up above freezing for the first time during the Championships.

Riseth won by 1.05 seconds over Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov, who took silver. Norway’s Joachim Aurland won bronze. Riseth, the Junior World Champion from two years ago in classic sprint, qualified fourth and won each of his three heats.

Dyvik took more than a three second margin over silver medalist Thea Kroka Murud of Norway, with her teammate Maja Dahlqvist of Sweden bronze. Dyvik was the fastest qualifier but lost out to Dahlqvist in both the quarterfinal and semifinal heats. It was Dyvik’s first U23 medal after winning a relay gold and skiathlon bronze at the 2014 Junior World Championships.

Wednesday it’s back to Junior Worlds with a 10k freestyle for men and 5k for women on the Olympic trails at Soldier Hollow.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Norway and Sweden took five of six medals as the U23 Cross Country World Championships opened with a classic sprint.

• Norway’s Fredrik Riseth, the Junior World Champion from two years ago in classic sprint, won gold.

• Sweden’s Anna Dyvik was fastest qualifier and took gold.

• Wednesday will be back to Junior Worlds with a 10k freestyle for men and 5k for women.

MEDALISTS

Men’s Classic Sprint
Gold - Fredrik Riseth, Norway
Silver - Alexander Bolshunov, Russia
Browne -Joachim Aurland, Norway

Men's RESULTS

Women’s Classic Sprint
Gold - Anna Dyvik, Sweden
Silver - Thea Kroka Murud, Norway
Bronze - Maja Dahlqvist, Sweden

Women's RESULTS

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.