Improved weather conditions at Winter Olympics hearten Aussie cross-country skiers, but all fail to make sprint final

Australia's cross-country athletes enjoyed the warmer conditions in the sprint event at the National Cross-Country Skiing Centre, although none of the six progressed to the quarterfinals.

In the women's race, Jess Yeaton came home in 52nd place, 23.82 seconds off the pace, while Casey Wright finished in 65th, a further 6.37 seconds back.

Only the top 30 qualified for the quarterfinals in a stacked international field.

«I felt good,» Yeaton said.

«I probably would have hoped for a little bit of a better result but no huge complaints there.»

Despite the sub-zero temperatures, conditions on the course today were a vast improvement on those from earlier in the week, which the Aussies said threw them slightly.

«I think we were just really lucky that the conditions have warmed up,» Wright said.

«The wind has dropped down and the skiing's a lot quicker than it was a few days ago.

»The first week we were here was probably some of the most brutal skiing I've had for quite a while."

Yeaton went as far as saying the conditions today were «perfect», although anything would have been an improvement from earlier in the week, when the 30-year-old said her hands were so cold she could not take her skis off.

«I prepared for really cold conditions, so I brought a backpack with every single shirt that I own,» Yeaton said.

«It was almost like a shock coming out today compared to the other day.»

In the men's race, Phil Bellingham led the way for Australia, finishing a hugely credible 50th, just 16.54 seconds off the leader.

«I had a bit of a tough lead in to the Olympics,» Bellingham said.

«I wasn't really skiing at my best, to now be here and skiing quite well today, just super happy and proud.

»There's just so much depth in cross-country skiing – today