Feb. 09, 2024 16:08 PM EST

Diggins Wins 15-Kilometer World Cup Event Before Tour Reaches Her Home State Of Minnesota

Jessie Diggins, center, of the United States, leads the pack as she skis during the women's 15km Mass Start freestyle World Cup cross country skiing event in Canmore, Alberta, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) Jeff McIntosh, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jessie Diggins, center, of the United States, leads the pack as she skis during the women's 15km Mass Start freestyle World Cup cross country skiing event in Canmore, Alberta, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessie Diggins, of the United States, celebrates on the podium following her win in the women's 15km Mass Start freestyle World Cup cross country skiing event in Canmore, Alberta, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessie Diggins, center, of the United States, leads the pack as she skis during the women's 15km Mass Start freestyle World Cup cross country skiing event in Canmore, Alberta, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessie Diggins, right, of the United States, crosses the finish line to win the women's 15km Mass Start freestyle World Cup cross country skiing event in Canmore, Alberta, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Jessie Diggins, center, of the United States, celebrates her victory with second place finisher France's Delphine Claudel, left, and third place finisher Norway's Heidi Weng on the podium following the women's 15km Mass Start freestyle World Cup cross country skiing event in Canmore, Alberta, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
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CANMORE, Alberta (AP) — Jessie Diggins won a 15-kilometer World Cup skiing event Friday, a week before the tour makes a stop in her home state of Minnesota.

Diggins’ time of 40 minutes, 26 seconds gave her a 2.6-second edge over runner-up Delphine Claudel of France for her fifth victory of the season. Heidi Weng of Norway was third in 40:29.3.

Sophia Laukli finished second among Americans and eighth overall in 40:34.6.

The 32-year-old Diggins helped the U.S. team earn its first Olympic gold medal in cross country skiing six years ago at the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea when she and Kikkan Randall won the team sprint. Diggins has since made it a mission to have a World Cup stop in Minneapolis, a goal that will become reality next weekend.

The races will be held at Theodore Wirth Park overlooking downtown Minneapolis on Feb. 17-18, marking the tour’s first American stop in 23 years.

Diggins grew up in Afton, Minnesota, about 30 miles east of the course.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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