The US Cross Country National Team held a skate time-trial on the rollerski course at the Soldier Hollow Olympic venue onTuesday September 30, 2003.
The men did 4 laps “of everything†(including the biathlon lop) and the women did two laps. Each lap is a bit longer than 2.5K – making this a “long†10K (for men) “long†5K (for women).
The lop is rolling and consists of short 30 seconds to 1.5 minute long uphills, sharp turns and some very fast downhills. It’s not common to see first-timers on the course take off their skis and walk down the hills.
High level skiers are getting up to impressive speed in the downs and helmets are required.
The smoke from a nearby forest fire that had covered the valley with thick smoke for the last 4-5 days had cleared and the temperatures were pleasant… still t-shirt and shorts weather at start time: 9:00AM.
Casey Ward won the “extra fast rollerskis class†while Kris Freeman won the “regular speed rollerski class†by 53 seconds and showed those who beat him in last weeks running time-trial how important (upper-body) strength is.
Carl Swenson seemed to be making an impressive adjustment to ski training after having participated in high level mountain bike racing all summer — a big step forward from last weeks running time-trial for Carl.
Andrew Johnson skied one lap with a broken pole tip and would have been a bit closer to Kris.
Wendy Wagner won the women’s race in impressive fashion.
The sprinters Koos, Cook and Newell did a sprint time-trial using the 1400 meter course that will be used at the upcoming Super Tour race in December and at the U-23 2004 World Championship. Newell was having stomach problems and only raced the prelim.
All three sprints were max effort. There was 15 minutes between the prelim and each of the heats. Koos won the Gold — Cook got Silver (or last place — his choice).
Results:
USST Skate Time-trial -September 30, 2003- Men 4 loops
1. Casey Ward   6:32 — 13:15 — 20:02 — 26:40
2. Kris Freeman  6:31 (650) 13:20 (658) 20:18 (658) 27:14
3. A. Johnson      6:47 (721) 14:08 (700) 21:07 (659) 28:07
4. Carl Swenson  7:10 (739) 14:49 (717) 22:07 (722) 29:25
5. J. Freeman      7:02 (725) 14:27 (740) 22:10 (746) 29:56
6. S. Loomis        7:30 — 15:20 — 23:20 — 31:20
Women 2 loops
1. Wendy Wagner6:56 (652) 13:48
2. Aubrey Smith   7:53 (809) 16:02
3. Hillary Patzer    8:13 (859) 17:02
4. Haley Johnson  8:26 (849) 17:05
5. Melissa Oram   8:28 (905) 17:23
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Sprint
(15mins between prelim/heats/heats)
Prelim:
1. Koos               2:49
2. Newell            2:52
3. Cook              2:59
Heat 1:
1. Koos               2:53
2. Cook              3:05
Heat 2:
1        Koos              2:50
2       Cook              3:04
