Randall Wins National Championship

Dartmouth junior Glenn Randall (Collbrun, CO) became the first Big Green skier in 41 years to claim an NCAA cross country ski title, winning the men’s 10-kilometer freestyle race at the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Skiing Championships today.

Randall, whose previous best NCAA finish was fifth in the freestyle in 2006, won in 30:37.3, 11 seconds better than Alaska-Fairbanks’ Marius Korthauer. Colorado’s Jesper Ostensen was third, 24 seconds off of Randall’s pace.

“This is really special for me,” said Randall, who learned to ski high in the Colorado Rockies. “It’s a really tough course with a lot of long, grinding uphills. I happen to like long, grinding uphills.”

Randall let the race from wire to wire, leading at the first interval in 14:34.1. “At around a kilometer-and-a-half, I heard I was in second place. Then, at about half way, I was told I was leading. From there I just tried to ski my race.”

“I knew he had a shot,” said Dartmouth men’s cross country coach Ruff Patterson. “This course was built for Glenn. We’re at altitude, and it’s one tough course. He really shines in these conditions.”