Australian ski cross athlete Sami Kennedy-Sim was edged out of a semi-final spot in a photo finish in the World Cup in Are, Sweden, overnight (Australian time).
The OWIA/NSWIS skier finished day one of back-to-back races in 11th place overall.
The race was won by France’s Alizee Baron, ahead of Austria’s Katrin Ofner in second and another Austrian, Andrea Limbacher , also on the podium.
After earning a place in the finals with the 14th fastest time in the qualification session, Kennedy-Sim looked likely to advance to the semi-finals when she held second position through the last turn in her quarter final.
However, France’s former World Champion Ophelie David was able to pull out from behind the Australian and make a slightly better press on the last jump, giving her enough speed to bridge the gap.
Crossing the line, judges called on a photo finish to separate the two athletes but the print showed the Australian had finished just behind in third place, which meant she missed the cut to progress to the last eight.
Coach Shawn Fleming said that he was impressed by Kennedy-Sim’s tenacity throughout the competition.
“It was the best head-to-head racing I have seen her put together in a long time,” Fleming said.
“This gives me confidence that we will see good things come in the second race tomorrow.
Teammate Anton Grimus had a tough day at the office when a mishap in the qualification session saw him unable to qualify for the finals.
Grimus was in 15th place at the split in the qualification session but spun out in the most technical turn of the course, ending his qualification run immediately
Sweden’s Victor Oehling Norberg won his third event in a row, followed by Frenchman Jean Frederic Chapuis and Sweden’s Michael Forslund in third.
Fleming said that Grimus was skiing fast up to the point of spinning.
“At the end of the day, that is racing. He will be competitive for the second race tomorrow,” Fleming said.
Day 2 in Are continues tonight Australian time.
Results
Women’s World Cup ski cross, Are, Sweden
1.Alizee Baron (FRA), 2. Katrin Ofner (AUT), 3. Andrea Limbacher (AUT), 4. Yulia Livinskaya (RUS), 5. Ophelie David (FRA), 6. Andrea Zemanova (CZE), 11.Sami Kennedy-Sim (AUS).
Women’s ski cross World Cup standing, after round 6
1. Fanny Smith (SUI) 357, 2. Anna Holmlund (SWE) 355, 3. Alizee Baron (FRA) 316, 4. Marielle Thompson (CAN) 300, 5. Ophelie David (FRA) 284, 6. Georgia Simmerling (CAN) 205, 12 Sami Kennedy-Sim (AUS)
Men’s World Cup ski cross, Are, Sweden
1. Victor Oehling Norberg (SWE), 2. Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA), 3. Michael Forslund (SWE), 4. Bastien Midol (FRA), 5. Christopher Delbosco (CAN), 6. Jamie Preddle (NZL), DNF Anton Grimus (AUS)
Men’s ski cross World Cup standing, after round 6
1. Victor Oehling Norberg (SWE) 411, 2. Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA) 287, 3. Bastien Midol (FRA) 220, 4. Andreas Schauer (GER) 205, 5. Sergey Ridzik (RUS) 199, 6. Daniel Bohnacker (GER) AUS) 85.
The OWIA/NSWIS skier finished day one of back-to-back races in 11th place overall.
The race was won by France’s Alizee Baron, ahead of Austria’s Katrin Ofner in second and another Austrian, Andrea Limbacher , also on the podium.
After earning a place in the finals with the 14th fastest time in the qualification session, Kennedy-Sim looked likely to advance to the semi-finals when she held second position through the last turn in her quarter final.
However, France’s former World Champion Ophelie David was able to pull out from behind the Australian and make a slightly better press on the last jump, giving her enough speed to bridge the gap.
Crossing the line, judges called on a photo finish to separate the two athletes but the print showed the Australian had finished just behind in third place, which meant she missed the cut to progress to the last eight.
Coach Shawn Fleming said that he was impressed by Kennedy-Sim’s tenacity throughout the competition.
“It was the best head-to-head racing I have seen her put together in a long time,” Fleming said.
“This gives me confidence that we will see good things come in the second race tomorrow.
Teammate Anton Grimus had a tough day at the office when a mishap in the qualification session saw him unable to qualify for the finals.
Grimus was in 15th place at the split in the qualification session but spun out in the most technical turn of the course, ending his qualification run immediately
Sweden’s Victor Oehling Norberg won his third event in a row, followed by Frenchman Jean Frederic Chapuis and Sweden’s Michael Forslund in third.
Fleming said that Grimus was skiing fast up to the point of spinning.
“At the end of the day, that is racing. He will be competitive for the second race tomorrow,” Fleming said.
Day 2 in Are continues tonight Australian time.
Results
Women’s World Cup ski cross, Are, Sweden
1.Alizee Baron (FRA), 2. Katrin Ofner (AUT), 3. Andrea Limbacher (AUT), 4. Yulia Livinskaya (RUS), 5. Ophelie David (FRA), 6. Andrea Zemanova (CZE), 11.Sami Kennedy-Sim (AUS).
Women’s ski cross World Cup standing, after round 6
1. Fanny Smith (SUI) 357, 2. Anna Holmlund (SWE) 355, 3. Alizee Baron (FRA) 316, 4. Marielle Thompson (CAN) 300, 5. Ophelie David (FRA) 284, 6. Georgia Simmerling (CAN) 205, 12 Sami Kennedy-Sim (AUS)
Men’s World Cup ski cross, Are, Sweden
1. Victor Oehling Norberg (SWE), 2. Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA), 3. Michael Forslund (SWE), 4. Bastien Midol (FRA), 5. Christopher Delbosco (CAN), 6. Jamie Preddle (NZL), DNF Anton Grimus (AUS)
Men’s ski cross World Cup standing, after round 6
1. Victor Oehling Norberg (SWE) 411, 2. Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA) 287, 3. Bastien Midol (FRA) 220, 4. Andreas Schauer (GER) 205, 5. Sergey Ridzik (RUS) 199, 6. Daniel Bohnacker (GER) AUS) 85.
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