Photo Gallery: U.S. Nationals Women’s 10 k Skate

APU’s Kate Fitzgerald and Erika Flowers of the SMS T2 Team (behind) about halfway up Hermod’s on the last lap. Fitzgerald placed third and Flowers was eighth.

FasterSkier’s coverage of the 2013 U.S. Cross Country Championships is brought to you through the generous support ofThe Memory Clinic in Bennington, Vt.

MIDWAY, Utah — Friday’s 10- and 15-kilometer freestyle races at Soldier Hollow were hardly a walk in the park. Racers had to tackle a modified 5 kilometer course, a slight variation of the 2002 Olympic 5 k that some thought was harder. Women went around twice, and the mental game was intensified by the individual start with skiers staggered at 15 seconds rather than 30. It made for a lot of chasing, some tricky passing situations and a lot of gritty racing. Take a look at some of the top women.

For a more extensive gallery, check out Bert Boyer’s collection.

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2013 U.S. nationals 10 k freestyle individual start

Sadie Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Annie Pokorny (Middlebury) 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Rosie Brennan, U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Caitlin Gregg, U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Eliska Hajkova (University of Colorado), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Caitlin Patterson (CGRP), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Erika Flowers (SMST2), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Kate Fitzgerald (APU), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Mary O'Connell (Dartmouth), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Sadie Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Rosie Brennan, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Annie Pokorny (Middlebury), 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Monica Markvardsen, Becca Rorabaugh, Anna Svendsen, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Caitlin Gregg, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Chelsea Holmes, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Fitzgerald, Flowers, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Mary O'Connell, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Brennan, Egan, Hart, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Caitlin Gregg, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Caitlin Patterson, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow, Hermod's Hill

Annie Pokorny, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Becca Rorabaugh, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Patterson passes Hannah Peterson of durango nordic, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Kate Fitzgerald, Erika Flowers, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Kate Fitzgerald, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

O'Connell leads Taeler McCrerey of Summit Nordic, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Rorabaugh, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Caitlin Patterson, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Kate Fitzgerald, Erika Flowers, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Sadie Bjornsen, Rosie Brennan, hug, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

APU's Rorabaugh, Brennan, Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

women's 10 k U.S. nationals Soldier Hollow

Mr and Mrs Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. Nationals

Mrs. Brennan, U.S. nationals Soldier Hollow

Rosie Brennan, Sadie Bjornsen, Kate Fitzgerald, women's 10 k podium U.S. nationals Soldier Hollow

2013 U.S. nationals 10 k freestyle individual start

The first starters in the 2013 U.S. Cross Country Championships women's 10 k individual start prepare for the two-lap pain game.

Sadie Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Sadie Bjornsen (APU/USST) among the early starters in Friday's 10 k freestyle individual start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow.

Annie Pokorny (Middlebury) 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Annie Pokorny (Middlebury) out of the start. She went on to place fourth.

Rosie Brennan, U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Rosie Brennan (APU) out of the start.

Caitlin Gregg, U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Caitlin Gregg (CXC) starting out. She finished 10th.

Eliska Hajkova (University of Colorado), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Eliska Hajkova (University of Colorado) out of the start. She went on to place ninth.

Caitlin Patterson (CGRP), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Caitlin Patterson (CGRP) starts out. She ended up fifth for a personal-best at nationals.

Erika Flowers (SMST2), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Erika Flowers (SMST2) takes off out of the start. She went on to place eighth.

Kate Fitzgerald (APU), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Kate Fitzgerald (APU) takes off from the start en route to a third-place finish.

Mary O'Connell (Dartmouth), U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Mary O'Connell (Dartmouth) out of the start. She ultimately placed seventh for a career best at nationals.

U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Some excited women at the start of Friday's 10 k free.

Sadie Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Sadie Bjornsen (APU/USST) sets a strong pace on the first of two laps in the women's 10 k freestyle individual start on Friday at Soldier Hollow. She placed second in the event.

Rosie Brennan, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Rosie Brennan (APU) leads a pack, including Middlebury's Annie Pokorny (second from r) on the first of two laps in the U.S. nationals 10 k freestyle individual start at Soldier Hollow on Friday. Brennan went on to win by nearly 11 seconds.

Annie Pokorny (Middlebury), 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Middlebury College sophomore Annie Pokorny (r) and others, including Becca Rorabaugh (second from r) chase eventual winner Rosie Brennan (not shown) on the first lap. Pokorny ended up fourth and Rorabaugh was sixth.

Monica Markvardsen, Becca Rorabaugh, Anna Svendsen, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Monica Markvardsen (24), APU's Becca Rorabaugh (28) and Anna Svendsen (21) of the University of Utah ski together on the first lap.

Caitlin Gregg, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Chelsea Holmes, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Chelsea Holmes (SVSEF) on her first lap.

Hajkova, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Hajkova working the straightaway on the first lap.

Fitzgerald, Flowers, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Fitzgerald (r) and Flowers ski together on a long straightaway on the first of two laps.

Mary O'Connell, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

O'Connell (Dartmouth) on her first lap.

Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Bjornsen coming through the stadium after her first of two laps.

Brennan, Egan, Hart, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Brennan (l), Clare Egan (c) of Craftsbury and Annie Hart (Dartmouth) come through the stadium after their first lap.

Caitlin Gregg, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Gregg (CXC) enters the stadium to start the second and final lap.

Hajkova, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Hajkova in the stadium after her first lap.

Caitlin Patterson, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Patterson enters the stadium for the first time.

2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow, Hermod's Hill

The straightaway before the second tier of Hermod's Hill.

Sadie Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Bjornsen works her way up Hermod's Hill for the second and final time on Friday.

Annie Pokorny, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Annie Pokorny (Middlebury) climbing Hermod's for the last time on Friday.

Becca Rorabaugh, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k freestyle individual start Soldier Hollow

Rorabaugh about halfway up the final climb.

Caitlin Gregg, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Gregg pushing up Hermod's for the last time on Friday.

Caitlin Gregg, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Caitlin Gregg

Patterson passes Hannah Peterson of durango nordic, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Patterson (r) passes Hannah Peterson of Durango Nordic on the final climb.

Kate Fitzgerald, Erika Flowers, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Fitzgerald (l) and Flowers work their way up Hermod's for the last time.

Kate Fitzgerald, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Fitzgerald and Flowers (behind) about halfway up Hermod's on the last lap.

O'Connell leads Taeler McCrerey of Summit Nordic, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

O'Connell leads Taeler McCrerey of Summit Nordic up the long climb.

Sadie Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Bjornsen approaches the finish line.

Sadie Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals 10 k free

Bjornsen exhausted after women's 10 k freestyle individual start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow. She ultimately placed second to APU teammate Rosie Brennan.

2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Some of the early women's finishers

Rorabaugh, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Rorabaugh stays strong through the finish

Caitlin Patterson, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Patterson brings it home for fifth place.

Kate Fitzgerald, Erika Flowers, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Fitzgerald leads Flowers into the finish for third and eighth place, respectively.

Sadie Bjornsen, Rosie Brennan, hug, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Winner Rosie Brennan (l) and runner-up Sadie Bjornsen embrace at the finish.

APU's Rorabaugh, Brennan, Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. nationals women's 10 k free Soldier Hollow

Three APU teammates converse at the finish: Rorabaugh (l), Brennan (c) and Bjornsen.

women's 10 k U.S. nationals Soldier Hollow

Volunteers organize bibs at the finish.

Mr and Mrs Bjornsen, 2013 U.S. Nationals

Mr. and Mrs. Bjornsen cheer on their daughter, Sadie, who was second in the 10 k freestyle race at U.S. Nationals on Friday. Later that afternoon, their son, Erik, won the men's 15 k for his first national title.

Mrs. Brennan, U.S. nationals Soldier Hollow

Wiggy Brennan of Park City captures the moment as her daughter, Rosie, tops the podium in the 10 k freestyle race Friday in Soldier Hollow. Rosie races for APU and it was her first national title.

Rosie Brennan, Sadie Bjornsen, Kate Fitzgerald, women's 10 k podium U.S. nationals Soldier Hollow

APU sweeps the women's 10 k freestyle podium with winner Rosie Brennan (c), runner-up Sadie Bjornsen (l) and Kate Fitzgerald in third.