Sapporo: Newell 1st in qualifying in sprint openers

Andy Newell laid down the fastest men's qualifying round Thursday afternoon as four U.S. men and women qualified for the finals heats in the first race of the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in the Sapporo Dome.
    In the first event at any nordic worlds to be held indoors, Newell finished first in the field of 83 for the 1.4 km classic technique event with Torin Koos 15th. In the women's 1.2 km CL qualifying, led by World Cup leader Virpi Kuitunen of Finland, Kikkan Randall was 21st and Laura Valaas, the USSA Cross-Country SuperTour sprint champion this season, 23rd as they moved through to the finals.

SAPPORO, Japan — Andy Newell laid down the fastest men's qualifying round Thursday afternoon as four U.S. men and women qualified for the finals heats in the first race of the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in the Sapporo Dome.
    In the first event at any nordic worlds to be held indoors, Newell finished first in the field of 83 for the 1.4 km classic technique event with Torin Koos 15th. In the women's 1.2 km CL qualifying, led by World Cup leader Virpi Kuitunen of Finland, Kikkan Randall was 21st and Laura Valaas, the USSA Cross-Country SuperTour sprint champion this season, 23rd as they moved through to the finals.