Swedish cross country skiier Charlotte Kalla wins World Cup race in Alberta

Kalla wins cross country skiing World Cup event

CANMORE, Alberta — Charlotte Kalla of Sweden edged overall leader Justyna Kowalczyk to win a cross country World Cup race Friday, while Giorgio DiCenta held off fellow Italian Pietro Piller Cottrer in the men’s race.

The World Cup meet over the 1988 Olympic trails in the mountains west of Calgary is serving as a final tuneup for the Vancouver Olympics, where cross country skiing begins Feb. 15.

Kalla made two trips around the 5-kilometer course in 25 minutes, beating Kowalczyk by 10 seconds. Irina Khazova of Russia finished third.

Caitlin Compton was the top American finisher in 14th, with teammates Morgan Arritola in 23rd and Holly Brooks in 24th. Those three will join world championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall and Liz Stephen on the U.S. team headed to Vancouver.

DiCenta won the 15-kilometer men’s World Cup race Friday in 34:08.0, holding off his teammate down the stretch. Dario Cologna outdistanced fellow Swiss skier Toni Livers for third.

Kris Freeman led the U.S. contingent in 20th place, followed by Matthew Edward Liebsch in 29th and Garrott Kuzzy in 33rd. Freeman and Kuzzy will be joined by James Southam, Torin Koos, Andy Newell and Simi Hamilton at the Olympics.

The U.S. cross country team is expected to arrive in Vancouver on Tuesday.