Rumford, ME (January 4, 2002) – Ignoring a continuing snowstorm, Olympian KrisFreeman (Andover, NH) was nearly two minutes ahead of older brother Justin(Andover) to win the men’s 30-km classic title Saturday, Jan 4, 2003 asthe Chevy TruckU.S. Cross Country Championships got underway. Earlier, Wendy Wagner (ParkCity, UT), another 2002 Olympian, won the women’s 15-km championship bymore than a minute.The Championships, hosted by the Chisholm Ski Club at Black Mountain forthe third time in a decade, have attracted a record field, marking thefirst time more than 400 racers registered. They will be the final elementin completing the World Championships Team as well as the World Juniors andU-23 Championships squad.The storm, which arrived Friday night and continued for almost 24 hours,covered a 5-km loop that was made up almost entirely of machine-made snow.Organizers said the new cover would allow Chisholm Ski Club volunteers toopen new loops for the remaining races, which run until Jan. 12.In collecting his first national championship, the 22-year-old Freeman wastimed in 1:19.07.9 while Justin Freeman, 26, who went to college in Maine(Bates), took the silver medal in 1:20.57.2. Bronze medalist was Lars Flora(Anchorage, AK), whose time was 1:21.06.1 as the storm left nearly a footof snow on the region.”It was pretty soft and pretty slow snow,” the victorious Freeman said,”but I went out hard and wanted to put some distance between me and therest of the field. I wanted to get a lead right away.””It was a tough course, definitely a World Championships caliber course.”The former University of Vermont racer from the Andover Outing Club, whohas lived in Park City, UT, for more than two years because of trainingopportunities, was pleased to return to New England and do well. Hisparents and his girlfriend were among the spectators cheering for him.”I knew I was capable of winning. My Fischers were great, the wax teamworked great and I did what I could,” Freeman said.He took the silver medal in the 50-km classic in another storm thatconcluded the 2002 Chevy Truck championships outside Bozeman, MT. He cameto Rumford as the men’s leader in the Nor Am Cup series and said he wasanxious to see how his strong start, and some good results at thechampionships will translate to international racing in World Cups, theU-23 championships next month near Bormio, Italy, and the WorldChampionships in Val di Fiemme, Italy.Wagner, the women’s Nor Am leader as U.S. skiers stayed home to trainbefore heading to Europe later this month, picked up the second U.S. titleof her career, capturing the three-lap race at snowy Black Mountain in48:51.9 with University of Alaska Fairbanks student Erin Whitmer(Fairbanks) runnerup in 50:01.4.”I felt good. The course held up pretty well, for all the snow. I didn’tthink the conditions were bad,” Wagner said. “I felt healthy and, really,pretty relaxed.”She grinned and added, “It’s about time” she won her second title. Herfirst gold medal was in the 5-km classic race at the 1998 championships.The race marked the return of Nina Kemppel (Anchorage, AK), the alltimeU.S. titleholder (19) and the only U.S. women named to four Olympic crosscountry squads. She retired from World Cup racing last spring but willcompete in several non-Cup races this season; Kemppel, who was 18th, saidshe had problems with waxing and wasn’t as ready to race as she would haveliked. U.S. Ski Team member Justin Wadsworth (Bend, OR) has been sidelinedby a cold and hasn’t come to Rumford as he tries to shake it at home.After an off-day Sunday, racing resumes Monday at Black Mountain withfreestyle races, the women’s 5-km and men’s 10-km.CHEVY TRUCK U.S. CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPSHosted by the Chisholm Ski ClubRumford, ME – Jan. 4Men’s 30-km Classic Technique1. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 1:19.07.92. Justin Freeman, Andover, NH, 1:20.57.23. Lars Flora, Anchorage, AK, 1:21.06.14. Andrew Johnson, Greensboro, VT, 1:21.22.25. Patrick Weaver, Bend, OR, 1:22.28.76. Chris Cook, Rhinelander, WI., 1:22.35.97. Carl Swenson, Boulder, CO, 1:23.20.38. Zach Violett, Auburn, CA, 1:23.58.39. Tobias Schwoerer, Anchorage, AK, 1:24.02.410. Chad Giese, St. Paul, MN, 1:24.23.4Women’s 15-km CL1. Wendy Wagner, Park City, UT, 48:51.92. Erin Whitmer, Fairbanks, AK, 50:01.43. Martina Stursova, Czech Republic, 50:22.54. Kristina Strandberg, Sweden, 50:31.25. Erin Quinn-Hurst, Anchorage, AK, 50:31.56. Lindsey Weier, Mahtomedi, MN, 50:32.17. Aelin Peterson, Fairbanks, AK, 50:41.68. Katja Ivanova, Russia, 50:42.49. Alison Crocker, Hanover, NH, 50:53.410. Melissa Oram, Taberg, NY, 51:28.2For complete result, go to www.chisholmskiclub.org