Once again, the Norwegian skiers dominated the J1 10 k classic mass starts at Junior Nationals on Saturday, but the Americans didn’t let their guests take all the podium spots. Keegan Swirbul, of Rocky Mountain, took third overall in the boys race, which was good for the top American spot, and he finished just one second behind Norwegian and second-place finisher Sjur Slettom.
Annika Miller had no intention of letting three Norwegians beat her in Thursday's J1 girls freestyle sprint at 2013 Junior Nationals. "I really wanted to (win). I was like ‘You know, the U.S. needs to be on top today,’ ” she said. Alaska's Lydia Blanchet and Felicia Gesior of Great Lakes took the J2 and OJ titles, respectively.
Of the six 3 x 3-kilometer classic relays at Junior Nationals on Tuesday — two each in the Junior 1, J2 and Older Junior divisions — only two were decided by less than 30 seconds and only one was up for grabs on the final straightaway. That race was the girls Junior 1 event, in which Intermountain edged Midwest by 3.7 seconds and Alaska by four seconds.
Alaska and New England dominated the opening girls races at the U.S. Cross Country Junior Nationals ski championships. Norway, despite owning the day’s most dominant performances, couldn’t quite complete its own sweep on Monday.