March 31, 2012 (Craftsbury, Vermont) – Top US distance skier, Kris Freeman (SSCV/USST), prevailed to claim the men’s 50km FR race at the US Distance National Championships this morning, held on a 1.5km course with man-made snow at the Craftsbury Outdoor Centre.

With about 15km to go, Freeman broke away from a lead group of about 20 skiers with his SSCV/USST teammate Tad Elliott, and the two built up a lead of over one minute by the 29th lap of the 33-lap race making it a 2-horse race.

In the end, it came down to a battle between the two leaders, with Freeman surging ahead at the finish to take the victory, followed by Elliott at 3.2 seconds back. Tim Reynolds (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) delighted the locals by taking the bronze medal in a closely contested final sprint at the line with Sylvan Ellefson (SSCV) in fourth. Simi Hamilon (Sun Valley SEF/USST) placed 5th.

In the Junior Men’s 20km race, Stratton Mountain School’s Patrick Caldwell earned a convincing win by a +47.2-margin over Jack Novak from APU in second with Tyler Smith (Park City Nordic Ski Club) in third.

Unofficial results HERE.