Yarovyi, Shyshkova, Masters claim second World Cup wins

Ukraine’s Maksym Yarovyi and Oksana Shyshkova and the USA’s Oksana Masters all took their second cross-country skiing victories at the World Cup in Vuokatti, Finland, on Thursday (15 December), dominating in the long distance classic.

World Championships silver medallist Yarovyi (44:32.3) was the first to follow-up on his sprint win from Friday (9 December) in the men’s sitting. South Korea’s Eui Hyun Sin (45:25.9) reached his best ever World Cup finish in second, a promising result with his home Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in 2018 edging closer.

The USA’s Daniel Cnossen (46:07.3) was third.

Masters (41:23.8) provided the US team with their latest podium finish from Vuokatti in the women’s sitting. The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games silver medallist led the Belarusian duo of Lidziya Hrafeyeva (43:09.5) and Liudmyla Vauchok (44:09.9) into second and third respectively.

Hrafeyeva and Vauchok built on a series of impressive performances from Belarus at the start of the World Championships season, with eight podiums so far.

Ukraine’s Worlds bronze medallist Ihor Reptyukh (51:21.6) was triumphant in the men’s standing, leading at all intervals. Home skier Ilkka Tuomisto (51:59.6) collected his latest World Cup points in second, ahead of Canada’s Mark Arendz (52:14.1) in third.

World champion Oleksandra Kononova (51:09.0) stormed to another win for Ukraine in the women’s standing. Kononova was joined by teammates Iuliia Batenkova (51:52.4) and Liudmyla Liashenko (52:13.9) who completed the top three in second and third respectively.

In slightly warmer conditions than in recent days at -6 degrees Celsius, the men’s visually impaired field took to the trails.

Sweden’s Sochi 2014 bronze medallist Zebastian Modin (52:48.6), guided by Johannes Andersson, excelled over 20km. The 22-year-old sealed maximum points, showing his improving form.

France’s Worlds silver medallist Thomas Clarion (54:02.3) also remained a strong contender with second with guide Antoine Bollet. Ukraine’s Dmytro Suiarko (54:29.3) was third, guided by Vitalii Kazakov.

Shyshkova (55:44.6) completed a quad of golds for Ukraine in the women’s visually impaired. Guided by Vitalii Kazakov, Shyshkova ate up the 15km trail to finish ahead of Austria’s Carina Edlinger (56:32.3) and guide Julian Josef Edlinger. Shyshkova’s compatriot Olga Prylutska (58:22.5) rounded off the podium, guided by Borys Babar.

Full results are available at World Para Nordic Skiing’s website.

Competition concludes in Vuokatti with the short distance cross-country freestyle on Friday (16 December).

Live results will be available online.

Live updates will be posted to World Para Nordic Skiing’s Twitter (@ParaNordic) and Facebook.com/paranordic throughout the competition.