FasterSkier’s coverage of the 2013 U.S. Cross Country Championships is brought to you through the generous support of The Memory Clinic in Bennington, Vt.
MIDWAY, Utah — In the very last race of U.S. Nationals, Sadie Bjornsen (Alaska Pacific University/U.S. Ski Team) pulled off a second gold and fourth podium performance of the week. She won the freestyle sprint on Tuesday at Soldier Hollow in a photo finish with Sophie Caldwell (SMS T2). Jennie Bender (CXC) was third.
Some images from the day:
Sadie Bjornsen (APU) first to start in the women’s qualifier.
Jennie Bender (CXC)
Caitlin Gregg (CXC)
Becca Rorabaugh (APU)
Rosie Brennan U.S. nationals skate sprint qualifier
Bjornsen qualifies in eighth.
Sophie Caldwell (SMST2) posts the fastest qualifying time.
Kate Fitzgerald (APU)
Lauren Fritz (APU)
Corey Stock (Dartmouth)
Annie Hart (r) of Dartmouth College
Quarterfinal 1 gets underway as the sun comes out at Soldier Hollow.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 1 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 1 at Soldier Hollow
Sophie Caldwell (SMS T2) and Jennie Bender (CXC) advance from the first heat.
Quarterfinal 2: Becca Rorabaugh (APU) and Annika Miller (Payette Lakes Sports) get off the line quickly.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
Miller enters the stadium in the lead, easily advancing with Rorabaugh.
Quarterfinal 3.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 3 at Soldier Hollow
womens q 3b
womens q 3c
womens q 3d
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 3 at Soldier Hollow
Rosie Brennan (APU) and Rose Kemp (University of Utah) finishing strong to advance from heat 3.
Quarterfinal 4.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 4 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 4 at Soldier Hollow
Caitlin Gregg (CXC) and Caitlin Patterson (CGRP) move on from the fourth heat.
Quarterfinal 5. Sadie Bjornsen (APU/USST) charges hard from the gun.
Bjornsen gets and early lead.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 5 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s quarterfinal 5 at Soldier Hollow
Bjornsen and Annie Hart (Dartmouth) move on from quarterfinal 5.
The first semifinal heat.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s semifinal 1 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s semifinal 1 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s semifinal 1 at Soldier Hollow
The pack charging hard into the finish.
Bender, Caldwell and Rorabaugh advance to the finals.
Semifinal 2.
Bjornsen pulls ahead early.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s semifinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s semifinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s semifinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s semifinal 2 at Soldier Hollow
A sprint to the line.
Bjornsen pulls away; Hart and Gregg qualify behind her in second and third.
The final showdown. Bjornsen, Hart, Bender, Caldwell, Rorabaugh and Gregg.
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s final at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s final at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s final at Soldier Hollow
2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s final at Soldier Hollow
Caldwell, Bjornsen and Bender vying for the win.
Bjornsen and Caldwell lunge.
A photo finish.
Post-lunge.
After video review, Bjornsen is declared the winner.
Bender took third.
Hart was fifth.
Caitlin Gregg took sixth.
Waiting to see who had won.
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Rorabaugh finished fourth.
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women after finishing
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2013 U.S. nationals skate sprint women’s final podium at Soldier Hollow
