Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) smiles with relief after winning the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday in Midway, Utah. Gregg won by 3:36, the biggest margin at nationals in recent memory.
FasterSkier’s coverage of the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships is brought to you through the generous support of The Memory Clinic in Bennington, Vt.
MIDWAY, Utah — Caitlin Gregg didn’t waste any time getting out front and out of range on Wednesday, opening up an 11.5-second lead by the first of four laps in the women’s 20-kilometer freestyle mass start. The 33-year-old SuperTour leader went on to post the fastest lap each time around the Olympic 5 k course at Soldier Hollow en route to a 3:36.4-second victory in the penultimate race of the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships.
The last time U.S. Nationals were held at SoHo: Start of the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. Caitlin Gregg went on to win going away.
Rosie Brennan (APU) leads Sun Valley’s Chelsea Holmes (106) after the first rise out of the start of the women’s 20 k freestyle at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow.
Women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah.
Women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah.
Women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah.
Women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah.
Women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah.
Caitlin Gregg (102) leads Chelsea Holmes up Hermod’s the first of four times during the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow.
Rosie Brennan chases in third up Hermod’s the first of four times in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals.
(Photo: Bert Boyer – http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
Marine Dusser (UAA) leads Kate Fitzgerald the first of four times up Hermod’s in the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals.
Women’s 20 k mass start up the first up Hermod’s at U.S. nationals in Soldier Hollow.
(Photo: Bert Boyer – http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
(Photo: Bert Boyer – http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
(Photo: Bert Boyer – http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) glances back at Kate Fitzgerald (APU) and Marine Dusser (UVM) near the end of the first of four laps in the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow on Wednesday.
(Photo: Bert Boyer – http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) on her way to a 3 1/2-minute win in the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at 2014 U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
Caitlin Gregg dominating the 2014 20k skate race. (Photo: Toko)
Caitlin Gregg dominating the 20k freestyle at 2014 US National Championships.
Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/ Madshus) leading by more than 10 seconds early in the second of four laps in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals.
Chelsea Holmes (SVSEF) early in her second of four laps in the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals.
Rosie Brennan (APU) in third early in the second of four laps in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow.
Kate Fitzgerald (APU) leads Caitlin Patterson (CGRP) up an early hill in lap 2 of 4 at the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow.
Rosie Frankowski of Northern Michigan University in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Nationals at Soldier Hollow.
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Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) gets a feed on the second lap of four in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow.
Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) gets a feed on the high point of the course in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow, Utah, last January.
Caitlin Patterson (r) through the feed zone at the high point of the Olympic 5 k course at Soldier Hollow.
Frankowski (119) gets a feed during the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals at Soldier Hollow.
Chelsea Holmes (SVSEF) in second up Hermod’s the second of four times in the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals.
Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury GRP) and Kate Fitzgerald (APU) work together in the 20 k freestyle mass start at the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships.
Holmes and Brennan (Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
(Photo: Bert Boyer – http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
(Photo: Bert Boyer – http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
Rosie Frankowski up the last hill on the second of four laps in the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals.
Brennan leads Holmes early in lap three
Caitlin Gregg tucking down Whale’s Tale with 1 1/2 laps to go in the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start, which she won by more than 3 1/2 minutes.
Brennan leads Holmes down Whale’s Tale on the third of four laps.
Brennan leads Holmes up Hermod’s for the third of four times in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. nationals.
Gregg up Hermod’s fourth lap.
On her fourth and final time up Hermod’s, Chelsea Holmes (SVSEF) distances herself from the chase pack to pursue Cailtin Gregg (not shown), who finished first, 3:36 minutes ahead of anyone else.
An APU coach cheers on Rosie Brennan up Hermod’s fourth lap
An APU coach cheers on Rosie Brennan up Hermod’s fourth lap
Rosie Frankowski in good position in fourth up Hermod’s on her first of fourth laps.
Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) racing to a nearly four-minute victory in the 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Jan. 8 at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. (Photo: U.S. Ski Team/Sarah Brunson)
Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) smiles with relief after winning the women’s 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday in Midway, Utah. Gregg won by 3:36, the biggest margin at nationals in recent memory.
Laurie Humbert hugs Caitlin Gregg after Gregg claimed her fourth national title in the 20 k freestyle mass start. Laurie has been a large part of Gregg’s journey to nationals.
![Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) smiles with relief after winning the women's 20 k freestyle mass start at U.S. Cross Country Championships on Wednesday in Midway, Utah. Gregg won by 3:36, the biggest margin at nationals in recent memory.](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/01/caitlin-gregg-big-winner.jpg")
