Johaug wins 10k free style cross-country World Cup

NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic (AP) Maurice Manificat of France and Therese Johaug of Norway won World Cup cross-country skiing free style races on Saturday.

Manificat took the men's 15-kilometer event for his first victory of the season. He beat Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway, the overall World Cup leader, by 10.8 seconds while Sergey Ustiugov of Russia placed third, 13 seconds behind.

Sundby was well ahead overall with 1,502 points, his teammate Finn Haagen Krogh a distant second with 917 after placing fifth, and another Norwegian, Petter Northug Jr., third on 801 after not competing on Saturday.

Johaug underlined her dominance in cross-country skiing by winning the women's free style in a 1-2 Norwegian finish.

Johaug covered the 10-kilometer distance fastest for her 11th victory of the season. She edged Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen by 4.6 seconds.

Jessica Higgins of the United States was 9.3 seconds back in third for her second podium of the season.

Johaug leads the overall World Cup standings with 1,484 points, followed by another two Norwegians. Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg had 1,274 after finishing ninth, and Heidi Weng 1,090 following her sixth-place finish.

The relays are scheduled for Sunday.