Cross Country: Cologna and Kowalczyk claim overall titles

The cross country World Cup season came to an end today in Falun, Sweden as Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk took home the overall titles following men’s and women’s handicap races at the 2009 World Cup Finals. Kowalczyk also captured the women’s distance title. The men’s distance title was awarded to Italy’s Pietro Piller Cottrer.

Cologna won his first overall title after finishing 20th in today’s race. He ended the season with three World Cup level wins including the Tour de Ski. Over the course of the World Cup season he racked up 16 top-ten results to finish second in the distance standings and ninth on the sprint list.

Norwegian Petter Northug was 127 points behind Cologna at season’s end to claim the runner-up spot, followed by teammate Ola Vigen Hattestad in third.
The cross country World Cup season came to an end today in Falun, Sweden as Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk took home the overall titles following men’s and women’s handicap races at the 2009 World Cup Finals. Kowalczyk also captured the women’s distance title today. The men’s distance title was awarded to Italy’s Pietro Piller Cottrer.

Cologna won his first overall title after finishing 20th in today’s race. He ended the season with three World Cup level wins including the Tour de Ski. Over the course of the World Cup season he racked up 16 top-ten results to finish second in the distance standings and ninth on the sprint list.

Norwegian Petter Northug was 127 points behind Cologna at season’s end to claim the runner-up spot, followed by teammate Ola Vigen Hattestad in third.

The top North American in the overall standings was Canadian Devon Kershaw in 18th. American Andy Newell finished the season in 48th in the overall standings.

Russian Sergey Shriaev won today’s men’s 15K handicap race for the first individual World Cup win of his career, followed by Vincent Vittoz of France in second and Finn Juha Lallukka in third. Canadian Alex Harvey led the North American effort in fifth. American Torin Koos finished 80th.

Kowalczyk (12th today) upset sprint titleholder, Slovenia’s Petra Majdic for the overall title, beating her by only 80 points. Finnland’s Aino Kaisa Saarinen ended the season in third. Kowalczyk won five World Cup races this year to claim her first two titles. She also scored two gold medals and a bronze at the World Championships in Liberec.

Today’s women’s 10K saw an all-Norwegian podium topped by Kristin Stoermer Steira, followed by Therese Johaug in second and Marthe Kristoffersen in third.

The top North American woman today was Canadian Sara Renner in 33rd place. American Kikkan Randall finished 46th.

The top North American woman in the overall standings was Renner in 21st. World Championship silver medalist Randall led the U.S. finishing 46th overall.

For complete results click here.