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Cross Country PBs and Big Air final qualifications on Day 12 of Lausanne 2020 

 

Cross Country PBs and Big Air final qualifications on Day 12 of Lausanne 2020 

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 Zana Evans AUS in action during the Cross-Country Skiing Women’s 5km Classic at Vallee de Joux Cross-Country Centre

Rosie Fordham and Zana Evans had personal best performances in the 5km Classic Women’s Cross Country on Day 12 of Lausanne 2020. 

Finishing well inside the top 50%, Fordham placed 36th, with Evans right behind in 37th.  15-year-old Evans said everything just fell into place for her third and final event at Lausanne 2020. 

“I’m stoked, like honestly I couldn’t ask for anything better,” she said after today’s race. 

“My teammates out there, my family, the coaches, my skis, the warm-up went to plan, it was a lot of things that really clicked today.” 

Evans didn’t know what to expect coming into the Winter Youth Olympics but is leaving feeling more motivated than ever. 

“I honestly had no expectations coming in, I didn’t know what the competition was going to be like, but now that I’ve completed it, I’m really happy and it’s a big achievement for me,” the Jindabyne local said. 

“I think it’s achieving a goal to something much bigger. Being here really opens you up to the bigger picture and the bigger Games. This is just a small step towards more international races, and maybe eventually ending up in the Olympics.” 

Teammate Hugo Hinckfuss put down another strong performance, with a 50th place finish in the Men’s 10km Classic. Fellow Aussie John Mordes struggled to replicate his strong performance from the Sprint event a few days earlier, falling a few times in the icy conditions to finish 67th. 

Day 12 of Lausanne 2020 also saw the end of the Ski and Snowboard cross events with the Ski-Snowboard Mixed Team Relay. 

The Australian Team featured snowboard cross Youth Olympic gold medalist Josie Baff, 7th place men’s snowboard cross rider Finn Sadler, plus ski cross races Kyra Wheatley (13th) and Ben Wynn (14th). 

After crossing first in their individual runs, Baff and Wheatley gave Team Australia a strong lead in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, Sadler’s board was clipped by another rider mid-race, causing him to have a hard crash. Wynn was unable to make up the time difference, and the team finished third in their quarterfinal, to place 9th overall. 

Mia Rennie and Abi Harrigan competed In the Women’s Freeski Big Air. Harrigan scored 52.33 in the first run and 10.66 after crashing in the second run, placing her in 15th position. Rennie scored 59.33 in the first run and 19.00 on the second run, which saw her finish 11th and secure her place in Wednesday’s  Big Air Final.  

“It was awesome weather, good competition, great jump, so there were a lot of good vibes at the top,” 16-year-old Rennie said.  

“I managed to keep my tricks super chill so I could qualify myself a spot in the finals which I did so I’m super stoked about that, so we have that tomorrow and that’s when business gets real. 

“My focus today was coming here to do what I did, which was make finals and to put the tricks down that could make me down that could make me get into finals which I did so I’m stoked.  

“Tomorrow in finals is the tricks that I want to land in competition so I’m here to work on them and do the best I can. 

Lily Jekel and Alexandra Chen competed in the Snowboard Women’s Big Air. Jekel scored 22.00 in her first run and 33.66 in her second run, placing her in 14th place. Chen scored 15.33 in her first qualifying run and 16.33 in her second, with a final position of 17th place, which did not see either athlete move through to Finals.  

“I’m pretty happy, I did land two runs” Chen said.  “I didn’t exactly put down what I wanted to, I did want to do something a bit more difficult, but it was a little tough, there was a bit of wind coming in and out which was a bit scary. 

“The plan I had put together with my coach didn’t really go to plan, but we did readjust.” 

Today at Leysin, Sunny Steele competed in the Snowboard Men’s Halfpipe. In the first qualification run, Steele placed 12th with a score of 37.33. His second qualification run placed him in 15th with a score of 36.33, which did not see him progress to the 12-rider finals.  

“I was super nervous. I was a bit shaky up the top, but I put both my runs down, so I’m super happy. I was just trying to do my best and land my run,” Steele said.  

“I was definitely trying to stay safe today to prepare for Big Air tomorrow which is one of my favourite events.” 

Steele and Rennie are the only two Aussies in action on Day 13, the final day of competition at Lausanne 2020. Steele will compete in the Men’s Big Air qualification in the morning, aiming to qualify for the afternoon finals. After Tuesday's qualification, Rennie is through to Wednesday’s Women's Big Air final, kicking off at 11.50am (1.50am AEDT).

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