Johaug leads Norwegian 1-2 finish in 30k championship

Spectators lined the course and filled the stadium, 100,000 strong. Therese Johaug and her Norwegian teammates did not let them down.

Johaug claimed the last women’s competition of the 2011 World Nordic Championships at Holmenkollwn stadium, the 30k mass start, in Oslo Saturday (March 5), powering up for the last kilometers as fans urged her on. She ran away for an impressive 44 second win beating quadruple gold medalist and teammate Marit Bjoergen. Pole Justyna Kowalczyk earned bronze.

From the beginning of the race Johaug, Bjoergen and teammate Kristin Stoermer Steira took charge, taking turns in the lead and keeping the pace high. Five kilometers in Steira forced the pace even higher with Johaug, Bjoergen, Charlotte Kalla and Kowalczyk the only skiers able to keep pace, Anna Haag struggling to stay in contact. Steira faded at the 10k mark, and Kalla couldn’t keep up when the others continued the charge. Just before the half way point Johaug launched a full-on attack and pulled away from the pack on an uphill. Remarkably, she continued to build on the gap. In the final kilometers she built the lead to 30 seconds and entered the stadium for what amounted to a victory lap and waved a Norwegian flag to an appreciative audience.

“I don’t have words to describe this,” said the gold medal winner. “I’m still processing what happened. During the last round, when I had reached Ila by Frognerseteren I realized what was happening. It was incredible.”

“It has been an incredible championships and this is a fine end to it,” said Bjoergen. “We knew all four Norwegians had good chances in this race and could heklp each other. Therese’s performance was really strong. … She has all my respect.”

The US team showed well with Elizabeth Stephen in 16th, Kikkan Randall 18th, Morgan Arritola 21st and Holly Brooks 25th.