Diggins finishes fourth as World Cup cross-country skiing comes to Minneapolis

Minnesota native Jessie Diggins warms up at Theodore Wirth Park before Saturday’s World Cup sprint race.

With a hometown crowd cheering her on, Afton native Jessie Diggins finished fourth in Saturday’s World Cup freestyle sprint at Theodore Wirth Park.

Jonna Sundling of Sweden, the 2022 Olympic champion in the event, won the first World Cup race in the United States in 23 years with a time of 3:06.40. Linn Svahn of Sweden, the sprint points leader this season, was second, .95 of a second behind, and Kristine Stavås Skistad of Norway was third in 3:09.08

Diggins, overall World Cup points leader this season, will race Sunday in the 10-kilometer freestyle, her signature event.

Four U.S. women and four American men advanced out of the qualifying round into the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal round includes five heats of six skiers each. Diggins had the second-best time in qualifying, behind only Sundling. Zak Ketterson of Bloomington also made it into the quarterfinal, finishing with the 14th-best time. He was fifth in his quarterfinal and did not advance to the semifinals.

Most spectators Saturday were new to World Cup racing, since the tour last came to the U.S. in 2001. One of the first things they learned: You can hear the venue before you can see it.

Those walking into the park at 8 a.m. had a serene hike until they got to the bridge on the east side. Then, AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” blasted through the woods, spun by the on-site hype masters. The area around the Trailhead teemed with fans swaddled in goose down and fleece, along with several American flags.

Even the newcomers knew to bring cowbells, the ski aficionado’s noisemaker of choice. By the time the qualifications started at 10 a.m., thousands had staked out the best viewing areas. And when Diggins hit the course for the first time, they let loose.

The sixth skier and first American in the start order, she ripped across the snow, fueled by a wave of sound. The smile never left her face. After her qualifying race, Diggins rushed to hug U.S. Ski Team staff members and exclaimed, “That was so cool!”

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