Norway’s Hattestad, Falla win World Cup races

DRAMMEN, Norway (AP) — Norway’s Olympic sprint champions Ola Vigen Hattestad and Maiken Caspersen Falla won their classic sprint races in the World Cup on Wednesday, while American Kikkan Randall sealed the women’s overall title in the discipline.

Vigen Hattestad came in ahead of countryman Paal Golberg and Italy’s Maicol Rastelli. The Norwegian now leads the men’s sprint standings by 41 points ahead of countryman Eirik Brandsdal before the final race of the season at Falun, Sweden.

In the women’s event, Falla beat fellow Norwegian Marit Bjoergen at the line, with Sweden’s Stina Nilsson finishing third.

However, Randall did enough to ensure she wins a third consecutive sprint crystal globe — by finishing seventh to lead Germany’s Denise Herrmann by 54 points in the standings, with only 50 points to compete for in Falun.