June 16, 2008 (Hayward, WI) – Central Cross Country Ski Association is pleased to announce the 2008-2009 CXC Elite Team. CXC is extremely proud of this talented and dedicated group of athletes. Caitlin Compton (Minneapolis, MN) returns to CXC Team after a solid season of training and racing in Europe with the US Biathlon Team.

While successfully racing with USBA Caitlin was still able to achieve a dominant win in the 5km skate race at US Cross Country Nationals. Her plans for this year include securing her position as one of the top US Cross Country women throughout the season.

Bryan Cook (Marquette, MI) stepped off the CXC Elite Team last year to complete his degree program at NMU. Along the way he assisted in coaching the Wildcats as well as full time training and racing to many top ten SuperTour finishes and tenth overall for the season among US distance skiers.

Garrott Kuzzy (Hayward, WI) leads the athletes returning from last season‚s team following an impressive SuperTour and inaugural World Cup season. Garrott won both SuperTour sprint and distance events last year and finished as the third US skier on the USSA distance and sprint points list. He won the SuperTour sprint title and was the top US male on the SuperTour distance list. Garrott achieved his season highlight of a ninth place finish in the World Cup sprint at Canmore, AB.

Brian Gregg (Hayward, WI) returns for a third year on CXC Elite Team. Last season Brian jumped into the top ten US skiers on the final overall USSA and SuperTour ranking, and finished second in the SuperTour sprints.

Returning women from last season include Kristina Owen (Houghton, MI) and Jojo Winters (Minneapolis, MN), both top fifteen overall on the SuperTour points list. Other men returning from 2008 include Matt Liebsch and Andre Watt. They concluded a very successful season last year capped by seventh and thirteenth place finishes respectively in the American Birkebeiner.

CXC is delighted to announce the selection of three new members to the CXC Elite Team for this year. They include Maria Stuber (NMU-Marquette, MI), Heather Zimmerman (UNH-Hayward, WI) and Gus Kaeding (NMU-Marquette, MI). All three of these fine individuals had strong collegiate careers and are looking forward to the commitment and rewards of full time athletics.

In addition to this dedicated Elite Team, CXC is pleased to name Alastair Duncan (Inverness, Scotland) to the newly formed CXC Post Graduate Program. Alastair has been living and training in Canmore, AB. Athletes in the Post Graduate Program live, train and race with the CXC Elite Team. They have elected to specialize in cross country skiing rather than enrolling full time in college immediately following high school. This program is designed to allow for full time athletics today, without jeopardizing future collegiate eligibility.