Posted: Wed March 13, 2013 5:58PM; Updated: Wed March 13, 2013 5:57PM

Justyna Kowalczyk clinches fourth cross country World Cup title

Justyna Kowalczyk won cross country skiing World Cup overall titles from 2009 to 2011.

ZumaPress.com

DRAMMEN, Norway (AP) -- Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland clinched her fourth overall cross-country World Cup title by winning a classical sprint, while Petter Northug of Norway won the men's trophy on Wednesday.

Kowalczyk beat two Norwegians in the final, with Heidi Weng 0.90 seconds back in second and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg 2.03 back. Therese Johaug of Norway was the only skier who could still catch Kowalczyk in the overall standings but she skipped the sprint, giving the Polish skier her fourth crystal globe. She won three straight overalls from 2009-2011.

Northug beat Alexey Poltoranin of Kazakhstan by 2.15 seconds in the men's final, with Nikita Kriukov of Russia 4.96 back in third. With overall leader Dario Cologna skipping the race, Northug trails the Swiss skier by just 23 points with five events left.