After having sailed across the finish line, Skari lifted her arms in triumph. It was obvious that today’s victory was longed for, especially because it came in a freestyle race..

- I wasn’t the hottest pre-race favourite, but when the race got going I felt good, says Bente Skari to XC-skiing.com.

She doesn’t wish to comment on the possibility that she her skating may have improved. On the other hand, she confirms that the good feeling she had last autumn, has finally returned.

- I’ delighted! That said, I’m not all that surprised, although my skating hasn’t been up to my expectations so far this season, says today’s Norwegian champion.
- Will you improve more before the Olympics?

- Yes, let’s hope so. I have the impression that my skating is getting better and better, says Bente Skari, who is now only one title short of passing Berit Mørdre on the alltime list of national titles in XC-skiing. Saturday, Skari may make it a tie with Mørdre.

- I hope I will. Hilde and I will start the pursuit more or less at the same time, and I expect us to maintain a swift tempo throughout the race. Anita Moen is coming from behind, and I’m sure she will try to go very hard from the start in an effort to get in touch with us.

- I’m looking forward to the pursuit, says Bente Skari to XC-skiing.com.

- What do you think about the national championships?

- There’s something special about the nationals. The atmosphere is good, and there are lots of spectators. I’m definitely not going to skip the nationals, unless I’m ill, says Skari, who nevertheless has decided not to race the classic 15K Tuesday.

- I’ll be on my way to the US when the 15K is being held, says 29-year-old Skari with a smile.

You’ll find the complete results from today’s event for women below:


1 64 1058270 Skari Bente Akershus 6.30,7 0,7 ( 3) 13.25,3
2 54 1260903 Pedersen Hilde G. Hedmark 6.30,5 0,5 ( 2) 13.27,0 1,7
3 58 1002204 Moen Anita Hedmark 6.30,0 ( 1) 13.36,1 10,8
4 52 1019858 Nilsen Elin Nordland 6.38,5 8,5 ( 4) 13.44,8 19,5
5 45 1147801 Bay Tina Hordaland 6.47,3 17,3 ( 8) 13.56,5 31,2
6 48 1303874 Bjørnås Kine Beate Nord-Trøndelag 6.45,4 15,4 ( 7) 14.00,5 35,2
7 53 1303777 Bjørgen Marit Sør-Trøndelag 6.42,1 12,1 ( 5) 14.01,7 36,4
8 60 1170208 Katnosa Anita O. Oppland 6.48,5 18,5 ( 9) 14.03,2 37,9
9 61 1355672 Selbæk Laila Sør-Trøndelag 6.50,6 20,6 ( 11) 14.17,8 52,5
10 55 1305814 Veum Anja R. Oppland 6.43,8 13,8 ( 6) 14.18,0 52,7
11 49 1093190 Kjerstadmo Eva Sør-Trøndelag 6.57,7 27,7 ( 15) 14.19,3 54,0
12 50 1244219 Risvold Cecilie Troms 6.54,4 24,4 ( 13) 14.26,6 1.01,3
13 5 1147898 Knotten Guri Sør-Trøndelag 7.02,0 32,0 ( 17) 14.26,7 1.01,4
14 35 1261194 Knotten Ingrid Nord-Trøndelag 7.02,6 32,6 ( 18) 14.28,2 1.02,9
15 57 1262261 Wigernes Ine Oslo 6.50,5 20,5 ( 10) 14.30,4 1.05,1
16 44 1304747 Østby Jannike Oslo 7.00,3 30,3 ( 16) 14.32,9 1.07,6
17 59 1355478 Narum Ingrid Sogn og Fjordan 6.51,1 21,1 ( 12) 14.33,3 1.08,0
18 7 Tafjord Ann Eli Møre og Romsdal 6.54,9 24,9 ( 14) 14.47,1 1.21,8
19 38 Stemland Kristin M. Sør-Trøndelag 7.07,5 37,5 ( 21) 14.50,6 1.25,3
20 51 1261873 Pettersen Hanne Troms 7.07,2 37,2 ( 20) 14.51,1 1.25,8
21 46 1304165 Gjømle Ella Oslo 7.08,9 38,9 ( 22) 14.57,4 1.32,1
22 33 Ryste Bodil Sør-Trøndelag 7.14,3 44,3 ( 25) 15.03,1 1.37,8
23 47 1335787 Andersen Tove Nord-Trøndelag 7.20,1 50,1 ( 28) 15.04,3 1.39,0
24 63 3425004 Aas Ingvild Oppland 7.11,1 41,1 ( 23) 15.08,5 1.43,2
25 62 3425003 Steira Kristin Størmer Oslo 7.03,2 33,2 ( 19) 15.10,2 1.44,9
26 40 3225010 Nordberg Kjersti Nord-Trøndelag 7.16,8 46,8 ( 26) 15.14,6 1.49,3
27 41 3425035 Haugen Ingrid Hordaland 7.18,7 48,7 ( 27) 15.15,1 1.49,8
28 32 1354993 Ansteinsson Henriette Buskerud 7.22,5 52,5 ( 30) 15.18,9 1.53,6
29 37 3225018 Gynnild Helle Nord-Trøndelag 7.29,4 59,4 ( 34) 15.19,1 1.53,8
30 42 3425000 Engesland Ingvild Aust-Agder 7.13,6 43,6 ( 24) 15.23,9 1.58,6
31 39 1261679 Opgård Karianne Finnmark 7.29,8 59,8 ( 35) 15.29,2 2.03,9
32 1 Åsheim Agneta Troms 7.25,7 55,7 ( 32) 15.30,0 2.04,7
33 34 3425015 Braathen Solfrid Oslo 7.25,5 55,5 ( 31) 15.31,3 2.06,0
34 23 Søråsen Anniken Oslo 7.21,3 51,3 ( 29) 15.32,6 2.07,3
35 4 Mustad Brita Cecilie Telemark 7.35,5 1.05,5 ( 36) 15.43,7 2.18,4
36 43 Pedersen Lena Cecilie Nordland 7.27,5 57,5 ( 33) 15.43,9 2.18,6
37 13 Olsen Gunnhild Troms 7.36,4 1.06,4 ( 37) 15.44,9 2.19,6
38 56 1228214 Madsen Trude Akershus 7.50,9 1.20,9 ( 42) 15.50,3 2.25,0
39 26 Sørum Ruth Oppland 7.51,1 1.21,1 ( 43) 15.52,5 2.27,2
40 16 Kristoffersen Karen Oslo 7.44,5 1.14,5 ( 39) 15.55,2 2.29,9
41 31 1227826 Ingvoldstad Ingrid Anne Hedmark 7.49,9 1.19,9 ( 41) 16.06,8 2.41,5
36 1227244 Axelsen Lene K. Akershus 7.45,7 1.15,7 ( 40) 16.06,8 2.41,5
43 27 3425002 Østlien Janne Oppland 7.53,0 1.23,0 ( 44) 16.08,6 2.43,3
44 6 Bjerke Heidi Sør-Trøndelag 7.43,3 1.13,3 ( 38) 16.09,4 2.44,1
45 25 1304553 Lorentzen Anita Nordland 7.54,0 1.24,0 ( 45) 16.13,4 2.48,1
46 3 Liby Jekke Aust-Agder 7.55,3 1.25,3 ( 46) 16.20,4 2.55,1
47 15 Nørsterbø Vibekke S. Sør-Trøndelag 8.10,2 1.40,2 ( 50) 16.30,2 3.04,9
48 29 3425016 Engen Therese Oppland 8.11,3 1.41,3 ( 51) 16.37,4 3.12,1
49 20 Tøllefsen Ingvild Troms 8.15,0 1.45,0 ( 54) 16.43,6 3.18,3
50 21 Aam Merete Møre og Romsdal 8.16,5 1.46,5 ( 55) 16.44,8 3.19,5
51 2 Kalsås Torill Rogaland 8.13,3 1.43,3 ( 52) 16.50,1 3.24,8
52 12 Tangen Lene Telemark 8.07,4 1.37,4 ( 47) 16.55,1 3.29,8
53 19 Bråtveit Kari Rogaland 8.30,6 2.00,6 ( 59) 16.57,4 3.32,1
54 24 Sporsheim Åshild H. Oppland 8.17,3 1.47,3 ( 56) 16.57,7 3.32,4
55 10 3425017 Gjerdal Liv May Oslo 8.14,5 1.44,5 ( 53) 16.59,3 3.34,0
56 14 Nygårdsmoen Hilde Akershus 8.08,9 1.38,9 ( 48) 17.02,7 3.37,4
57 18 Eriksen Anita Telemark 8.22,0 1.52,0 ( 57) 17.03,6 3.38,3
58 11 Gjedrem Tina Møre og Romsdal 8.22,3 1.52,3 ( 58) 17.15,4 3.50,1
59 8 Vullum Grete Sør-Trøndelag 8.09,4 1.39,4 ( 49) 17.18,0 3.52,7
60 17 Fossmellem Ingunn Hedmark 8.40,7 2.10,7 ( 61) 18.05,0 4.39,7
61 9 Spaun Janne M. Troms 8.38,6 2.08,6 ( 60)