Disabled nordic WC: Klebl, Cook each finish 2nd

The U.S. Disabled Cross Country Team wrapped up the 2007 IPC Disabled World Cup this week with second-year World Cup skier Chris Klebl (sit-ski) and Paralympic gold medalist Steve Cook (standup) second in the overall World Cup standings.
MOUNT WASHINGTON, B.C. — The U.S. Disabled Cross Country Team wrapped up the 2007 IPC Disabled World Cup this week with second-year World Cup skier Chris Klebl (sit-ski) and Paralympic gold medalist Steve Cook (standup) second in the overall World Cup standings.
    Klebl's World Cup podium total for the season clicked off at eight with one victory and seven second-place finishes in nine races, while Cook piled up five podium finishes, including three victories.
    "Both these guys worked extremely hard in a season that was pretty challenging in terms of snow conditions, but they plowed right through," said head coach Jon Kreamelmeyer. "Chris just out works everyone, he's such an intelligent guy and really does his research — he knows everything there is to know about skiing, from waxes to skis to grinds to venues, he's on it and that shows in his skiing. Plus his dedication to training is truly inspiring, I couldn't be more proud of what he's accomplished this year."
    With two races on Vancouver Island, Klebl won the men's 16 km on Sunday with a time of 56:26.3, while four Americans loaded the top 10. Greg Mallory (sit-ski) was fourth, with Andy Soule (sit-ski) sixth and Sean Halsted (sit-ski) in seventh.
    On Wednesday, it was Mallory's turn to step up in the sprint, topping the field with Klebl in second, Halsted fifth and Soule sixth.
    "The young guys really stepped it up this season and that's one of the biggest highlights," added Kreamelmeyer. "Mallory, Soule and Halsted all did a great job getting up there. Soule especially, this was his first World Cup event and as a development guy, it's huge to see him up there. This season has far exceeded my expectations and that puts a big smile on my face as we look forward."
    Cook skied to fourth in the standing men's 20 km on Sunday, then battled back in the sprint to finish fifth on Wednesday.
    "Steve has always been the workhorse of this team. He won the overall title at Fort Kent, Maine, in 2005, then was pretty sick before winning three medals at the Paralympics last year, so he finished third and now second this year. There's room on his shelf for pretty much every bit of hardware you can win," said Kreamelmeyer.
    In the women's races, two-time Paralympian Kelly Underkofler powered her way into the sprint final, finishing fourth Wednesday, but focused on biathlon, where she was third in the overall World Cup standings for the season.

DISABLED CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CUP
Mount Washington, Vancouver Island, B.C.
March 11, 2007
Men's 16 km – sit-ski
1. Chris Klebl, Heber City, UT, 56:26.3
2. Robert Wator, Poland, 57:19.1
3. Chunshan Fu, China, 57:19.2
4. Greg Mallory, Portland, OR, 57:51.3
5. Georges Bettega, France, 59:37.5
6, Andy Soule, Sun Valley, ID, 1:01:09.0
7. Sean Halsted, Gig Harbor, WA, 1:08:44.1

Men's 20 km – standing
1. Yoshihiro Nitta, Japan, 55:58.2
2. Kjarten Jaugen, Norway, 56:17.4
3. Iikka Tuomisto, Finland, 57:07.0
4. Steve Cook, Salt Lake City, 57:53.5
5. Jorg Baldauf, Germany, 59:47.5

March 14, 2007
Men's Sprint – sit-ski
1. Greg Mallory, Portland, OR, 2:32.10
2. Chris Klebl, Heber City, UT, 2:37.72
3. Chunshan Fu, China, 2:40.48
4. Robert Wator, Poland, 2:46.28
5. Sean Halsted, Gig Harbor, WA
6. Andy Soule, Sun Valley, ID

Men's Sprint – standing
1. Kjartan Haugen, Norway, 2:30.12
2. Iikka Tuomisto, Finland, 2:34.52
3. Thomas Oelsner, Germany, 2:36.23
4. Nils-Erik Ulset, Norway, 2:36.88
5. Steve Cook, Salt Lake City

Women's Sprint – standing
1. Syoko Ota, Japan, 2:58.53
2. Katarzyna Rogowidc, Poland, 2:59.08
3. Stina Maria Sellin, Sweden, 2:59.79
4. Kelly Underkofler, St. Paul, MN, 3:02.75