Sports

Anchorage skier Patterson shows promise in World Cup 50-K

World Cup rookie Scott Patterson of Anchorage made an impression in one of the toughest 50-kilometer races of the season Saturday in Oslo, Norway.

Patterson, 24, was the second American finisher on the rigorous Holmenkollen course. He placed 32nd in the mass-start classic race, his best individual finish in three World Cup races this season.

Noah Hoffman of Aspen, Colorado, led the U.S. team in 24th place. Norway's Martin Sundby won the race in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 41.9 seconds.

Patterson, a member of the Alaska Pacific University nordic program, was 8:47 behind and two spots away from scoring World Cup points.

"For Scott to nearly crack the points on one of the hardest 50-K courses in the world as a World Cup rookie is very impressive," U.S. coach Matt Whitcom said in a press release from the U.S. Ski Team. "He has a big future ahead of him."

The women's 30-K is Sunday.

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