Alaska cross country skier JC Schoonmaker earns first World Cup podium finish

Alaska’s JC Schoonmaker earned his first career World Cup podium Saturday, taking third place in the classic sprint final in Östersund, Sweden.

Schoonmaker, an Olympian and former UAA skier, finished in 3 minutes, 16.86 seconds, less than five seconds off the pace set by Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo.

“This first podium just means so much to me that it’s hard to even describe,” he said in a statement from U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “It’s been a dream of mine for a long time so to get up there today and have Ben really close right with me is just such a sweet feeling.”

Right behind Schoonmaker was fellow Team USA member Ben Ogden (3:19.12), who placed fourth. The race marked the first time in history that the U.S. had two men advance to the sprint final.

“To be a part of this team right now is an honor,” Schoonmaker said in a statement. “Ben and I have both been looking to make it to the final now for a while and both of us getting it done on the same day is a dream scenario. I’ve been excited for U.S. skiing and U.S. men’s skiing for a while now but today has really stoked the flame and I feel more motivated to keep it up and more proud to be a part of it than ever before.”

On the women’s side, Alaska’s Rosie Brennan continued her strong start to the season. Brennan finished the classic sprint final in fourth place with a time of 3:40.92. That was one spot ahead of Olympic teammate Jessie Diggins, who placed fifth in 3:42.32.

“In general I’m pretty excited about my race today,” Brennan said in an interview with U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “I’m pretty sure that was my best-ever classic sprint so that’s hard to complain about.”