YOG Skate Sprint

Today we got to start the prelim at 3:45, as it was getting dark, so the heats were under the lights!! I had a good prelim, qualifying 23rd, and Paddy qualified 18th! I was really excited for the heats because I knew I would just get stronger. I knew if I could have a good start, I could stick with the other girls, and I did have a really good start, I was 3rd going into the hill! But then, a girl's ski connected with my pole and it broke. Luckily Tim was at the top of the next hill with a spare, and I was able to get it quickly, but just the time of moving out to get it lost me a few seconds that were impossible to make up on the fast course. It was my first time breaking a pole in a race, so I guess I'm lucky that its never happened before. It was pretty disappointing that my experience was about dealing with breaking a pole rather than getting to race the heats though. I had been looking forward to this race ever since I found out I made Youth Olympics last spring, but I guess I learned today that you can't put all your hopes into one race, because you never know what can happen! But, that's sprinting, and today I wasn't lucky.

On the bright side though, Paddy was really, really lucky...it was more him just being fast than luck, but he qualified through the heats as second lucky loser, twice! He made it to the final, and finished 5th!!! That was really exciting!!! When they were on the course, the announcer called out "Who's cheering for the American?" and we were all yelling and screaming for Paddy...the announcer went on to find out who was rooting for the other countries represented in the final, but we could tell he was most excited that there was an American!!

 

#1 fan

Sverre reminding me to get forward on the uphill- it looks the same, right?!

 

finishing the prelim

 

start of my heat

posing with Yoggl, the mascot

 

Paddy killing it in the heats!

 

psyched after the race!

 

the secret skis of the day

Now we have the relay with the biathletes on Saturday, and closing ceremonies on Sunday...it's going by so fast!

All photos from the SMS blog (taken by Brooke) and Dave McCahill (FasterSkier)
Check the SMS blog for more photos, and FasterSkier.com for an article about the race!

Also, here's a link to video footage from the classic race, they caught me at the finish and Paddy on one of the hills!
YOG Women's 5k
YOG Mens' 10k