January 10, 2017 (Heber City, Utah) – Chelsea Holmes of APU Nordic Ski Center skied away from the field in the women’s 20km Classic mass race at US Nationals in Soldier Hollow today, beating top junior skier Katherine Ogden of SMS T2, who showed that she is ready for the Junior Nordic World Championships to be held at the same venue later this month from Jan 30-Feb 5.

Women's podium © Tom Kelly / USSA

Third place went to Caitlin Patterson, of Craftsbury Green Racing Project. Rosie Frankowski (APU) finished 4th while the top Canadian was Emily Nishikawa (Canadian NST) in 5th.

Holmes’ win makes her a strong candidate for the 2017 FIS Nordic World Championships in Lahti, Finland, next month (Feb. 22-Mar. 5), as she has two National-level wins this month. One of her main rivals for a distance start berth, Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg), did not compete in the today’s race.

Full results here.