A look at the US Cross Country Championship freestyle sprint at Black Mountain. The men raced 1.6 k beginning with qualification at 10:00 a.m. After delaying the race from Monday due to heavy rains, cooler temperatures allowed the course to firm up and provide the athletes with great conditions for the freestyle sprint.
Ryan Scott (SSCV Team Homegrown) lead teamate Sylvan Ellefson (SSCV Team Homegrown) in the last quaterfinal.
Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) leads around the corner of the first climb out on course.
Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) crest the top of the first hill with the rest of the heat close on his heels.
Sylvan Ellefson (SSCV Team Homegrown) lead Torin Koos (BSF) in the mens A-final.
Mens third quarterfinal racing across the last flat before the downhill into the stadium.
Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) leads Ryan Scotts (SSCV Team Homegrown) and Patrick O’Brien (CGRP) in the mens B-final.
Tim Reynolds (CGRP) opens up a gap on Reese Hanneman (APU) in the first semi final.
Reese Hanneman (APU) leads early in the mens first semi final.
A mens heat heads down the final hill into the stadium.
Karl Nygren (CXC) opens a gap on Mike SInnott (SVSEF) and Skyler Davis (USST/SMS)
Tad Elliot (SSCV Team Homegrown/USST) take the lead in a mens quarterfinal with Reese Hanneman (APU) following closely.
Brent Knight (APU) leads Tim Reynolds (CGRP) around the bend in the third mens quarterfinal.
An aggressive Jordan Beutow (Bates) takes and early lead over Patrick O’Brien (CGRP).
Athletes dissapear into the stadium in a mens heat.
Torin Koos (BSF) leads the mens A-final on the final decent into the stadium.
Torin Koos (BSF) makes an aggresive move in the mens A-final with a few hundred meters to go.
Mens A-final still together with less than half a lap to go.
Torin Koos (BSF), Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess (Bend Endurance Academy), and Lars Flora (APU) three wide in the mens A-final.
Sylvan Ellefson (SSCV Team Homegrown) trying to stay on his feet during the mens A-final.
All together early in the mens A-final.
Torin Koos (BSF) setting the pace early in the mens A-final.
Karl Nygren (CXC) puts out massive power as he goes over the top of the first climb.
A mens heat stretches out as they decend into the stadium.
Mike Sinnot (SVSEF) leads Reese Hanneman (APU) in the mens B-final.
Ryan Scott (SSCV Team Homegrown) making a move on the inside of Mike Sinnott (SVSEF).
Lars Flora (APU) leads Torin Koos (BSF) up the hill.
Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) takes the inside of the corner in the mens second semi final.
Tyson Flaharty (Toko/Madshus) climbs during qualification. Photo: Toko.
Karl Nygren (CXC) 6th place. Photo: Toko.
Karl Nygren (CXC) leads a mens quarterfinal heat. Photo: Toko.
Torin Koos (BSF) 1st place. Photo: Toko
Torin Koos (BSF) leads a mens semi final heat. Photo: Toko.
Brian Gregg racing for CXC on his way to placing 28th in the freestyle sprint at U.S. Cross Country Nationals on Jan. 3 in Rumford, Maine. Photo: Toko.