The North Americans came out swinging to start 2024 FIS Junior & U23 World Cross Country Championships, collectively claiming a full set of medals in the opening two days of racing.
Sammy Smith (Sun Valley/USST) struck first, taking the silver in Monday’s junior skate sprint final in her third career trip to World Juniors.
Tuesday, as U23 athletes took the stage, Sonjaa Schmidt (Alberta World Cup Academy) won the women’s U23 skate sprint final off the strength of the best closing free skate this side of Jessie Diggins, giving the Canadian women their first podium in high-level international competition in over a decade. She did it all after barely squeaking into the heats in bib no. 29.
Minutes later, John Steel Hagenbuch (Dartmouth/USST) followed suit in the men’s final, using a devastating late-race kick to move up from fourth and onto the podium for bronze.
I don’t have athlete quotes yet — busy day for all on site in Planica, not to mention that the 10-hour time difference and my own school-day commitments are not doing any logistical favors when it comes to my ability to play reporter in a timely fashion — but here are some videos! Like, full, official, embedded videos, with English-language commentary and everything. Yes you need to step “down” to World Juniors/U23 before FIS will make this available, but that said this is very nice to have.
Monday’s juniors first. Women’s final starts at roughly the 1:37 mark; should be cued up for that.
And now the U23 athletes today. Here is the women’s final, starting at 1:24:
And here is the men’s final, starting at 1:36:
Other North American results this week include Americans Ava Thurston 21st on Monday, Evelyn Walton 25th, and Sofia Scirica 30th. In the men’s race, Zach Jayne was 32nd in qualifying, Trey Jones 39th, Lucas Wilmot 48th, and Matt Seline 67th.
For U23 women today, Haley Brewster was 13th, Anabal Needham was 23rd, and Nina Seemann was 28th; Novie McCabe did not start. And for U23 men, finally, Walker Hall and Brian Bushey joined Steel Hagenbuch in the heats, finishing 18th and 21st, respectively. Elijah Weenig was 45th in the qual.
For Canada, Monday saw Tory Audet in 15th to lead the Canadian junior women, with Alexandra Luxmoore 18th, Clara Hegan 38th, and Alison Mackie 53rd. For the junior men, Alexandre Cormier and Raleigh Tarte led the way in the heats in 21st and 25th, with Finn Redman and Garrett Siever 34th and 64th, respectively, in qualifying.
Liliane Gagnon joined Schmidt in the heats today for the U23 women, reaching the semis and finishing 8th. Jasmine Drolet was 33rd and Amelia Wells 36th. Finally, for the U23 men, Derek Deuling placed 24th, with Luke Allan and Sasha Masson just out of the heats in 31st and 34th.
There is a full slate of racing on tap in Planica between now and Sunday. Either the juniors or the U23 athletes race every day through Saturday, then both classes contest a mixed relay on Sunday. Livestreams for all races should be available through FIS here.
— Gavin Kentch
