Emilia Vidgren (FIN, Girls 1), Kjersti Graesli (NOR, Girls 2), Lovro Percl Serucnik (SLO, Boys 1) and Jan John (CZE, Boys 2) are the winners of the first FIS Youth Cup of the 2022-23 season.
A total of 94 athletes from 11 nations took part in the Official Training and PCR on the HS66 in Tschagguns (AUT) today.
In beautiful conditions, the Nordic Combined youngsters competed on the hill in the Montafon Nordic Sports Center, before heading over to the village for the following cross run.
While the girls and boys 1, as well as the girls 2 ran a 2.4 km race, the boys 2 participants had to complete a 4.9 km course.
In the girls 1 category, Emilia Vidgen from Finland reached the finish line first, 16.9 seconds ahead of Anna-Sophia Gredler from Austria and Giulia Belz (+29.8 sec) from Switzerland.
The Finn was already the winner of the Ski Jumping round in the morning (62 m) and took a 22 second lead into the course.
In the girls 2 ranking, Kjersti Graesli secured the victory for Norway, 10.1 seconds ahead of Greta Pinzani from Italy and Slovenian Zala Mihelcic (+18.5 sec) on rank 3.
The Norwegian, who was in the second place after Ski Jumping with 62 meters, had only a 3 second distance to the leader Teja Pavec from Slovenia, who fell back during the run and finished 7th (+1:21.2 min).
On the boys side, Lovro Percl Serucnik took his 11 second lead from the Ski Jumping round (59.5 m) to the finish line.
In the end, he was just 1.9 seconds ahead of his team mate Timon Brglez on rank 2, while Noe Kempf (+22.4 sec) secured the 3rd place for Switzerland.
The final competition of the day, was the boys 2 4.9 km cross run.
Czech Jan John, who placed 16th after Ski Jumping 49 second behind leader, showed a strong catch-up race. He reached the finish in Tschagguns 28.9 seconds ahead of Martin Lubin from France and Slovenian urban Zajec (+32.8 sec).
A special highlight for all partipants was the presence of Overall World Cup champion Jarl Magnus Riiber, who not only cheered them on during the race, but also presented the prizes at the award ceremony.
Results: FIS Youth Cup – Tschagguns, 2.9.22
