Cendrine Browne Skis into the Points at World Cup in Sweden
Quebec-based Olympian battles for 29th spot in 10-kilometre mass start race
FALUN, Swe.—Canada’s Cendrine Browne skied into the points for just the second time ever in her World Cup career, finishing 29th in the women’s 10-kilometre skate-ski mass start race in Falun, Sweden.
Competing in her first World Cup weekend of the season, the 26-year-old from Saint-Jérôme, Que. battled from the back of the pack where she steadily worked her way up into the top portion of the field. Browne stopped the clock at 26:44.3 in Sweden.
“This was a really good race for Cendrine who had great shape, fast skis and was excellent all day,” said Erik Braten, head coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team. “She was patient throughout the race, didn’t rush, and her pacing was really impressive.”
Norway’s Therese Johaug won the race with a time of 25:04.1. Sweden’s Ebba Andersson was second at 25:10.6, while Norway’s Heidi Weng skied to the bronze at 25:27.9.
The only other time Browne skied into the top-30 was at the 2017 World Championships in Lahti, Finland when she was 26th in the 30-kilometre mass start race. Browne also posted the 27th-fastest time on the day in a 10-kilometre skate-ski pursuit race in Falun in 2018.
The 2018 Olympian is bouncing back into top form after experiencing a concussion in the summer which prevented her from training properly for the start of the season. In addition to the top-30 finish last Sunday, Browne posted a trio of podium performances at the recent Haywood NorAm races in Mont-Saint-Anne, Que. which featured all of the nation’s top athletes.
“Cendrine has been training well for the last few months now and is feeling healthy,” added Braten. “To be at your best and deliver when it matters like she did in Falun is a strong skill. I am confident she will continue to stay in this top form and build on this great result.”
Katherine Stewart-Jones, of Chelsea, Que., was 37th at 27:04.0. Dahria Beatty, of Whitehorse, placed 40th (27:18.2). Emily Nishikawa, of Whitehorse, skied to 46th at 27:39.6. Maya MacIsaac-Jones, of Athabasca, Alta., was 64th (29:20.8).
Meanwhile, Evan Palmer-Charrette, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was the top Canuck in the men’s 15-kilometre skate-ski race. Palmer-Charrette finished 52nd at 35:56.1. Alexis Dumas, of Quebec City, was 64th (36:43.6). Bob Thompson, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 67th at 36:55.8, and Montreal’s Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier was 74th at 38:47.0.
Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov won the men’s race with a time of 33:10.3.
Complete World Cup Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=CC&eventid=45175&seasoncode=2020
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