Anchorage's Sadie Bjornsen cracked the top 20 in the women's 10-kilometer classic cross-country ski race Thursday at the Winter Olympics.
Bjornsen placed 18th to lead the Americans. All four U.S. skiers finished in the top 35.
Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk, skiing on a broken foot, captured the gold medal in 28 minutes, 17.8 seconds. Charlotte Kalla of Sweden earned silver (28:36.2) and Therese Johaug of Norway took bronze (28:46.1).
Bjornsen placed 18th in 29:59.7.
The other three Americans were separated by eight seconds. Vermont's Sophie Caldwell, who placed sixth in Tuesday's freestyle sprint, was 32nd (31:11.4), Vermont's Ida Sargent was 34th (31:15.1) and Anchorage's Holly Brooks was 35th (31:19.1).
Anchorage Daily News