Anchorage skier Sadie Bjornsen withstood difficult conditions Sunday to lead the U.S. Ski Team with a 14th-place finish at a World Cup 10-kilometer classic race in Lahti, Finland.
Her brother Erik led the men's team by placing 38th in the 15-K.
For Sadie, who is having the best season of her career, the result marked the 16th time she's been in the top 20 of a World Cup or World Championship race this season. She ranks 17th in the World Cup distance standings and 21st overall heading into the final stretch of the season.
As they have much of this season in Europe, skiers battled spring-like klister conditions. In an email, Bjornsen said she felt strong in the first lap but spent the second lap trying to maintain her technique on the deteriorating course.
"Cold hard tracks have always been my strength, so I am being forced to find some new skills and strengths this winter," Bjornsen said. "I have decided I will spend more time this summer on the glacier working on herring bone, and the change of technique that you need with the warmer sloppy conditions."
Minnesota's Jessie Diggins placed 17th to give the Americans two women in the top 20. Anchorage's Caitlin Patterson placed 50th.
Norway's Marit Bjorgen won the women's race and Italy's Francesco de Fabiano topped the men for his first World Cup win.