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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Winter Olympics: Cross-country skiing capsule outlook


By Chris Kuc
Chicago Tribune

Cross-country skiing
Whistler Olympic Park
FEB 15-28

Best of the U.S.: Three-time Olympian Kikkan Randall became the first U.S. female medalist at a major championship when she placed second at the 2009 World Championships in individual sprint. Andy Newell has participated in four World Championships and is one of the top U.S. hopes for a medal in the 1.5-kilometer sprint.
Best of the rest: Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland won two golds and a bronze at the 2009 World Championships. Norway’s Petter Northug and the Czech Republic’s Lukas Bauer figure to battle it out for individual supremacy in the men’s 15 kilometer. Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic took home a silver medal in the 15-kilometer classical in Turin. Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk has eight career World Cup titles in that event.
Predictions
Women’s 10km: 1. Kowalczyk, Poland. 2. Charlotte Kalla, Sweden. 3. Marit Bjoergen, Norway.
Men’s 15km: 1. Bauer, Czech Republic. 2. Northug, Norway. 3. Matti Heikkenen, Finland.
Men’s individual sprint 1.5km: 1. Emil Joensson, Sweden. 2. Ola Vigen Hattestad, Norway. 3. John Kristian Dahl, Norway.
Women’s individual sprint 1.5 km: 1. Petra Majdic, Slovenia. 2. Kowalczyk, Poland. 3. Alena Prochazkova, Russia.
Men’s 2x15km: 1. Northug, Norway. 2. Bauer, Czech Republic. 3. Dario Cologna, Switzerland.
Women’s 2x7.5km: 1. Kowalczyk, Poland. 2. Bjoergen, Norway. 3. Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia.
Men’s team sprint: Sweden. 2. Russia. 3. Norway.
Women’s team sprint: 1. Sweden. 2. Norway. 3. Russia.
Men’s relay: 1. Norway. 2. Russia. 3. Sweden.
Women’s relay: 1. Norway. 2. Russia. 3. Finland.
Men’s 50 km: 1. Tobias Angerer, Germany. 2. Maxim Vylegzhanin, Russia. 3. Jens Arne Svartedal, Norway.
Women’s 30 km: 1. Majdic, Slovenia. 2. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland. 3. Saarinen, Finland.