Three of Canada’s young guns offered Canadian cross-country ski fans a glimpse of the future with a 12th-place finish in the 4x10 kilometre team relay at the 2014 Winter Olympics on Sunday (Feb. 16), finishing in 1:33:19.
With Alex Harvey and Devon Kershaw resting for the team sprint, veteran Ivan Babikov teamed up with Olympic rookies Len Valjas, 25, Graeme Killick, 24 and Jess Cockney, 24, for the team relay. Heading into the games, the team relay was seen as a potential medal hope for the Canadians, but Harvey and Kershaw are former world champions in the team sprint and tried their luck there.
Valjas and Cockney were battling a bad cold before the race, which threatened Canada’s entry, but the duo said they didn’t want to let their teammates down.
“It was super tough, my lungs still hurt 20 minutes after the finish,” Valjas said. “This is my favourite race. It’s not the same team we thought we’d have, but I’m starting with three of my best friends, so there was no stress.”
Valjas showed strong form early on, sticking with the group and threatening the lead for the first two-thirds of his leg. He got tangled up in a crash and finished a minute back of the leaders, crossing the line in 12th.
Babikov moved the Canadians up to 11th on his leg, but couldn’t claw the Canadians ahead any further. Killick was able to maintain the 11th spot before handing off to Cockney, who was in a race with American Simeon Hamilton.
Hamilton edged Cockney, but Cockney was honoured to take part in the race, which taught him how much work he has to do to reach his lofty goals.
“It’s been a subpar preparation for me. I’m thrilled to be racing the relay, especially the anchor leg,” Cockney said. “I really just wanted to beat the Americans … unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hold onto my side of the bargain and Simi got me. But I was really happy to be part of the race.”
The team has struggled with wax, but Valjas said his skis were incredible on the day.
“The skis were world-leading. I’d go over the top of hills and I’d go from eighth to first on the downhills. The grip was perfect and the glide was insane,” Valjas said.
The Swedish team continued its dominance of cross-country ski events by winning gold with a 27 second lead, followed by Russia and surprising France, which won its second cross-country Olympic medal in 100 years. Heavy favourites Norway finished fourth.
Cross Country Canada has four races left in which to reach its goal of two Olympic medals.
