Norway, Russia Win Cross-Country Ski Races

BERN, Switzerland - Ella Gjomle and Marit Bjorgen led Norway to victory Sunday in World Cup cross-country ski racing. The pair edged Germany's Stefanie Boehler and Claudia Kuenzel by 0.2 seconds in the 6.6 kilometer freestyle team sprint, finishing in 14 minutes, 45.2 seconds. Italians Arianna Folis and Gabriella Paruzzi were third, 2.6 seconds back.

Russians Ivan Alypov and Vassili Rotchev won the men's event Sunday, completing their 6.6-kilometer freestyle sprint in 13:16.3.

Norway's Jens Arne Svartedal and Tor Arne Hetland were 0.3 seconds back, with Italians Renato Pasini and Cristian Zorzi a further 0.8 behind.

Hetland took his first victory of the season on Saturday in the men's individual 1.35-kilometer freestyle.

Norway's Marit Bjorgen beat Claudia Kuenzel of Germany on Saturday in the women's 800-meter freestyle for her third win of the season. Bjorgen also stretched her lead in the overall standings. She now has 410 points, followed by Kristina Smigun of Estonia with 260. Smigun did not race in Bern.

AP, 5.12.2004

Marit Bjoergen, right, from Norway, and Ella Gjoemle (not in the photo) win the final of the world cup cross country ski team sprint skiing women's competition in Bern, Switzerland, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004. Bjoergen is followed by Claudia Kuenzel (4/2) from Germany and Gabriella Paruzzi (12/2) from Italy. (AP Photo/Keystone, Edi Engeler)

Marit Bjoergen, right, from Norway, and Ella Gjoemle, left, appear after they won the final of the world cup citysprint cross country skiing women's competition in Bern, Switzerland, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Edi Engeler)

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Finland's Ahonen Wins Fourth Ski Jump

TRONDHEIM, Norway - Finland's Janne Ahonen won his fourth straight ski jump Sunday, giving him victories in every World Cup event this season. Austrians Martin Hollwarth and Andreas Widholz were second and third.

Ahonen, last year's overall champion, has 22 career World Cup wins. He won the two events in Norway this weekend and the two in Finland last weekend, giving him a maximum 400 points in the overall standings.

Ahonen narrowly trailed Norway's Roar Ljokelsoy and Hollwarth after a 123-meter jump in the first round. In the second round, Ahonen went 124.5 for the victory with 246.5 points.

Ljokelsoy, forced to wait for his second jump because of strong wind, managed only 113 meters and dropped to fourth with 229.9 points. He jumped 127.5 in the first round. Hollwarth had 235.5 points after jumps of 124.5 and 118 meters. Widholz jumped 117 and 126.5 for 235.3 points.

AP, 5.12.2004

Finland's Janne Ahonen, centre, winner of the World Cup Ski jump competition in Granasen, Trondheim, Norway, Sunday Dec. 5, 2004, stands on the winners podium with Austria's Martin Hollwarth left, who came second and Austria's Andreas Widholzl, right, who came third. (AP Photo/Scanpix, Gorm Kallestad)

Austria's Andreas Widholzl flys to take third place in the World Cup Ski jump competition in Granasen, Trondheim, Norway, Sunday Dec. 5, 2004. (AP Photo/Scanpix, Gorm Kallestad)

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