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Zimmermann, Compton Win Second Titles
HOUGHTON, Mich. (Jan. 1) - Olympian Leif Zimmermann (Bozeman, MT) and Caitlin Compton (Minneapolis, MN) collected their second national titles Tuesday as the U.S. Cross Country Championships returned to Michigan Tech. A near-record throng of 450-plus skiers have registered for the championships.
Zimmermann started slowly but had the fastest second loop in the 10K skating technique race. He earned the gold medal in 24:39.3 with Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) finishing as runner-up with a 24:45.9 clocking. Garrott Kuzzy (Hayward, WI), who leads the USSA Cross Country SuperTour standings, was bronze medalist in 24:56.5. The championships count for double SuperTour points.
Russian Ivan Babikov, skiing in the Guest Class, had the fastest time (24:23.7), but only American citizens are eligible at the U.S. Championships for medals or titles. Zimmermann also won the 2004 U.S. sprint championship in Rumford, ME.
Zimmermann eyes World Cup races
Zimmermann has battled sickness since winning a SuperTour race in West Yellowstone, MT, over Thanksgiving weekend. He felt better in mid-December and finished third in a SuperTour race (won by Babikov) at Utah's Soldier Hollow, the 2002 Olympic venue.
"I was a little slow to get going. I felt a little sluggish and it took me some time to get fired up, but I got things rolling on the second lap. I really hammered that lap," Zimmermann said. "It started snowing during our second lap, but I went early [in the field of 253 men] and, for the most part, didn't have any problems."
He had strong training workouts after Soldier Hollow and came to Houghton anxious to solidify one of the U.S. Ski Team berths for World Cup races Jan. 22-26 in Canmore, Alberta. "This is a good start for the new year and a confidence booster for Canmore. I'm trying to get as much racing now as I can because those will be some hard racing," he said.
"The course was in perfect condition up until then. After the women raced, it was packed and hard. It wasn't really fast because of some snow overnight, but Michigan Tech again did a great job preparing things," he said.
Compton, who shared the team sprint title last season with Laura Valaas (Wenatchee, WA), is on the U.S. biathlon team after winning the 2007 SuperTour distance and overall titles. "This was awesome. I felt pretty good all through the race," Compton said.
Her winning time in the 5K freestyle race was 13:47.1 with Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) second in 14:11.8. Taz Mannix (Anchorage, AK) claimed the bronze medal with a time of 14:19.6. Karin Camenisch of Switzerland, skiing in the Guest Class with Babikov, had the third-fastest time (14:17.3).
Her plan was to charge from the start. The course drops into a slight downhill after the start "and I didn't want to just cruise into it and be content and then have to turn up the heat," she explained.
Compton started at the back of the 185-skier field "and I was psyched when I saw that. I knew it was a good position" to learn where other skiers, who started ahead of her, were in the race. "I wanted to start hard and keep the hammer down. It was a good plan for me, all the way."
U.S. Nordic Director Luke Bodensteiner said, "there was a lot of good racing going on. Once again, Houghton did an outstanding job of organizing things, and the athletes made it exciting. The women's race was pretty close, and I think we'll see more of that. It's certainly good to see Leif coming back and skiing hard. This should be a fun week."
After an off day Wednesday, racing resumes Thursday with classic technique competitions, a men's 15K CL and a women's 10K. In addition to the World Cup spots, which are to be decided, the championships also are being used in selecting a Junior Championships Team and Under-23 Championships squad.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2008 U.S. CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Michigan Tech
Houghton, MI - Jan. 1, 2008
(Only U.S. citizens eligible for medals)
Men's 10K Freestyle
1. Ivan Babikov, Russia (The Factory Team) 24:23.7
2. Leif Zimmermann, Bozeman, MT (U.S. Ski Team/Bridger Nordic) 24:39.3
3. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH (U.S. Ski Team/Andover Outing Club) 24:45.9
4. Garrott Kuzzy, Hayward, WI (Team CXC) 24:56.5
5. Marius Korthauer, Germany (University of Alaska Fairbanks) 24:58.0
6. Lars Flora, Anchorage, AK (The Factory Team/Alaska Pacific U. Nordic) 25:06.5
7. Brayton Osgood, Putney, VT (Team Fischer Craft) 25:16.6
8. Noah Hoffman, Sun Valley, ID (Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) 25:17.3
9. Andrey Golovko, Kazakhstan (The Factory Team) 25:19.9
10. Justin Freeman, Andover, NH (The Factory Team) 25:28.8
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Women's 5K FR
1. Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis, MN (Team CXC/USBA) 13:47.1
2. Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT (U.S. Ski Team/Burke Mountain Academy) 14:11.8
3. Karin Camenisch, Switzerland (Team Rossignol) 14:17.3
4. Tazlina Mannix, Anchorage, AK (U.S. Ski Team/APU Nordic) 14:19.6
5. Lindsey Dehlin, Mahtomedi, MN (U.S. Ski Team/Northern Michigan U.) 14:19.7
6. Sadie Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA (Methow Valley Nordic Club) 14:21.8
7. Morgan Arritola, Fairfield, ID (U.S. Ski Team/Sun Valley SEF) 14:22.5
8. Laura Valaas, Wenatchee, WA (U.S. Ski Team/Whitman College/APU Nordic) 14:25.8
9. Annelise Bailly, France (University of Denver) 14:27.3
10. Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, AK (U.S. Ski Team/APU Nordic) 14:28.2
U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDALISTS
Men's 10K FR
Gold - Leif Zimmermann, Bozeman, MT (second U.S. title)
Silver - Kris Freeman, Andover, NH
Bronze - Garrott Kuzzy, Hayward, WI
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Women's 5K FR
Gold - Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis (second U.S. title)
Silver - Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT
Bronze - Tazlina Mannix, Anchorage, AK
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