Swenson, Ivanova Go Three for Three in Nationals Freestyle Races

Rumford,Maine:  It has been a record field in this year's Chevy Trucks US XC Nationals at Black Mountain in Rumford, Maine, but for the marathon events, the women's 30km and the men's 50km freestyle racers, the number of racers who toed the line at the start barely filled one results page. Today's races were for the true, endurance athletes.  And it was a race of endurance — the thermometer already recommended minimal time outside, and the wind was gusting hard enough to blow over some of the women.  On days like these, it was a day of endurance even for the spectators and volunteers of the Chisholm Ski Club.

 

Through it all, Katja Ivanova, National Guard/Rossignol, capped a perfect week of freestyle racing with nearly a minute lead over Alpina Racing Team's Aubrey Smith and her teammate Sarah Konrad.  It was Ivanova who led from the start, as the pack of Smith, Konrad, 4x Olympian Nina Kemppel (Subaru Factory Team) and Brooke Baughman (Rossignol) switched leads and tried to catch her.  Eventually Baughman dropped off the back and was passed by Dorcas Wonsavage (Team Atomic).  But the course continued beyond the capacity of Wonsavage's legs and Erinn Whitmer (UA-Fairbanks) caught her with three kilometers to go and captured fifth place. 

<Women's 30K results– when available, not up as of 8pm est.