Andy Pohl
Dunedin cross-country skier Andy Pohl (21) improved his
FIS-ranking and beat his Australian rivals at the world
under-23 cross-country championships in Germany yesterday on
his way to finishing in 50th place in a field of 64 athletes
competing in the 15km classic race.
Pohl's time of 41min 45.5sec was 3min 55.5sec behind race
winner Vladislav Skobelev (23), of Russia, and reduced his
FIS points from 118 to 108, but it was not enough to meet the
New Zealand Olympic qualification standard of 100 FIS points.
Pohl's closest transtasman rival, Callum Watson (21),
finished two seconds behind, with Pohl hauling back the
faster-starting Watson in the last 10km of the race.
Snow Sports New Zealand cross-country steering group
spokesman John Burridge said yesterday Pohl's performance was
a significant improvement for the young skier, who had hoped
to qualify in time for this Winter Olympics next month but
has now set his sights on the 2014 games in Sochi.
"He will be pleased with the improvement but not satisfied as
he knows how much more has to be achieved.
"His time was 10.3% behind the overall winner," Burridge
said.
Pohl features in a New Zealand Olympics Committee television
advertisement of athletes who were considered potential
selection prospects for Vancouver next month.
Three cross-country spots were allocated to New Zealand but
the committee has only selected dual New Zealand-Canada
citizen Ben Koons and Tauranga's Katie Calder.
Pohl was grateful to receive support from the Australian team
in his solo appearance at the world junior championships.
He has also been supported by the Skeggs Foundation and New
Zealand's Nordic Sports development trust.
Pohl's next race at the junior world championships is the
30km pursuit this weekend.
He then heads back to his base in Canmore, Canada, for his
first appearance at a World Cup competition.
Calder, but not Koons, will also be competing at Canmore with
races starting on February 5.
Koons has elected to go to Vancouver to prepare for the
Olympics.
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