Liberec, Czech Republic - Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland had the strongest finish in a 30-kilometres cross-country ski marathon on Saturday to claim her second gold medal at the world championships.

Kowalczyk skied away from her rivals on the final kilometre to add the 30km gold to the pursuit title and 10km bronze.

Kowalczyk clocked 1 hour 16 minutes 10.6 seconds to win from Russian Evgenia Medvedeva (8.8 seconds behind) and Valentina Shevchenko of Ukraine (9.3).

Norwegians Therese Johag and Kristin Stoermer Steira, who had contributed to a high pace for long stages of the race to decimate a leader group of 17 after 7.5km to eight at 27km, had to settle for fourth and fifth, respectively.

Aino-Kaisa Saarinen of Finland finished outside the medals in seventh place, 16.5 seconds behind Kowalczyk, as she failed to medal for the first time in Liberec. Saarinen won 10km, team sprint and relay gold earlier in the championships.

Compatriot title holder Virpi Kuitunen withdrew during the race after falling far behind early on. Kuitunen won the 2007 title when the race was held in her preferred classic style.

The other medal events on the penultimate day of the championships were the Nordic combined large hill event and ski-jumping team competition.

Holders Austria were the top favourite in jumping while Frenchman Jason Lamy Chappuis won the combined event jumping portion to take a 28-second lead over Finland's Lauri Asikainen into the concluding 10km cross-country pursuit.

World Cup leader Anssi Koivuranta of Finland came second in jumping but withdrew due to illness. (dpa)