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ASI Team Reports 97/98

Report 7 - Mora, Sweden, December 31, 1997

The months seem to be ticking away quickly. There is a 10km race today, but it is a very small race. The next and final round of races for Olympic qualification are as follows.

January 3/4
Scandinavian Cup, 10km classic, Åsarna, Sweden
Scandinavian Cup, 30km skate, Åsarna Sweden

January 12
World Cup, 30km skate, Ramsau, Austria

Finn Marsland's last chance to reach the qualification standard is really in the 10km classic in Åsarna. 30km skating is not exactly his forté. Paul Gray and Anthony Evans have of course already reached the qualification standard. The team for Nagano is scheduled to be selected on January 15.


Paul Gray has been training easy for over a week now. He said this yesterday:

"I feel okay but my pulse is still high. I just want to make sure I'm 100 percent before Åsarna."


The Annandag Stafett.

The ASI's adopted Swedish club, Oxvreten, could manage only 8th place in the boxing day relay. With Paul Gray not ready to start racing again, Krister Andersson (Some Aussie's may recall Krister from his visit to Australia last season.) filled the 3rd leg, with Anthony starting and Finn skiing second. Finn was satisfied with his race. Anthony came in to the first change in 7th place, and had this to say about his performance:

"I wasn't happy about it, but it was my first race. I've been training pretty hard. If I'd been serious about it (the relay) I would have rested."

The men's relay was won comfortably by Mora, who's skiers finished 5th, 6th, and 13th in the first day of the Swedish Pursuit Championship 2 days later. Norberg, with Mikael Östberg who won the Australian 30km Championship last August, outsprinted Åsarna for second place.

In the women's relay, Marika Engström, Sara Fyhr, and Maria Wik completed the double for Mora, holding out against a strong Kvarnsveden team. Both should do well in the Swedish relay Championship later in the season.


Interesting results in the Swedish Pursuit Championships. Antonina Ordina won comfortably, but 17 year old Jenny Olsson took the silver, and 16 year old (she turns 17 tomorrow) Anna-Karin Strömstedt moved up from 11th place to take the bronze medal. For those Australians who have been in Mora on previous ASI trips, Anna-Karin is the younger sister of Stina.


Mora has been graced with the presence of Jessica Hart since mid December. Jess is staying with Karin Lamberg and training like mad in between stealing chocalates, writing emails and generally hassling the rest of the team.


Christer has postponed the triathlon once again. You can run but you cant hide. The match will go ahead.

Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night.