Pohl's time of 41min 45.5sec was 3min 55.5sec behind race winner Vladislav Skobelev (23), of Russia, and reduced his FIS points from 118 to 108, but it was not enough to meet the New Zealand Olympic qualification standard of 100 FIS points.
Pohl's closest transtasman rival, Callum Watson (21), finished two seconds behind, with Pohl hauling back the faster-starting Watson in the last 10km of the race.
Snow Sports New Zealand cross-country steering group spokesman John Burridge said yesterday Pohl's performance was a significant improvement for the young skier, who had hoped to qualify in time for this Winter Olympics next month but has now set his sights on the 2014 games in Sochi.
"He will be pleased with the improvement but not satisfied as he knows how much more has to be achieved.
"His time was 10.3% behind the overall winner," Burridge said.
Pohl features in a New Zealand Olympics Committee television advertisement of athletes who were considered potential selection prospects for Vancouver next month.
Three cross-country spots were allocated to New Zealand but the committee has only selected dual New Zealand-Canada citizen Ben Koons and Tauranga's Katie Calder.
Pohl was grateful to receive support from the Australian team in his solo appearance at the world junior championships.
He has also been supported by the Skeggs Foundation and New Zealand's Nordic Sports development trust.
Pohl's next race at the junior world championships is the 30km pursuit this weekend.
He then heads back to his base in Canmore, Canada, for his first appearance at a World Cup competition.
Calder, but not Koons, will also be competing at Canmore with races starting on February 5.
Koons has elected to go to Vancouver to prepare for the Olympics.
