January 6, 2003 – Two-time Olympian Carl Swenson (Park City, UT) and Rebecca Dussault (Gunnison, CO) collected their second titles in 48 hours Monday as a blockbuster field of 453 skiers helped make history at the Chevrolet U.S. Cross Country Championships.

Swenson, the 30K classic winner Saturday in the rain at Black Mountain as the championships got underway, covered the 10K classic technique course in an unofficial 26:05.1 for his 10th U.S. title. Temperatures were in the upper 20s under an overcast sky.

Lars Flora (Anchorage, AK), one of Swenson's 2002 Olympic teammates, finished in 26:27.2 and was silver medalist for the second race in a row and Dave Chamberlain (Bethel, ME) finished third; only U.S. skiers are considered for medals.

“Today was more stable waxing conditions, so it was more relaxed,” Swenson said. “It was just two laps, so it wasn't a problem with the course…although I'm sure the guys starting in the 240s had a problem.”

Swenson, who heads to Europe at week's end to rejoin Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) who is competing on the World Cup, said he enjoys the schedule at the Chevrolet championships, which includes another day of racing Tuesday. “To me, a lot of racing is the best training, the best way to get fast unless I'm getting sick, but I'm feeling healthy,” he said.

Dussault, with her husband Sharbel and their 2-year-old son Tabor cheering her on, was the women's 5K CL winner with a time of 14:48.5. Saturday, she earned her second U.S. title by winning the 15K CL; Monday's title is her third U.S. championship. Wendy Wagner (Park City, UT) was silver medalist and Rachel Daw (Duluth, MN) was bronze medalist.

“I woke up this morning and had a motivation to win…and good things happen,” she said. “I love the challenge of racing at this level.”

She's won eight races in the last three weeks ñ four SuperTour races on the Olympic trails at Soldier Hollow, Utah, followed by two victories in SuperTour races in Fort Kent, Maine, and then these two U.S. titles, which also are part of the SuperTour.

“It's been a good month, very good,” she said. After nearly 300 men raced twice around the loop, the women found softening snow, she said. “The track held up where you could stride, but the hills were sugar but you have to go fast in sugar, too,” she said, smiling.

A record 559 skiers have registered for the championships and a record 453 skiers – 268 men and 185 women – raced Monday. The old marks, set a year ago in Rumford, were 368 skiers in one day and 423 total registrants. The throng was so big Monday that the Chisholm Ski Club, which has organized the championships the last two seasons, went to starting skiers every 15 seconds instead of the normal 30-second intervals.

Tuesday, the technique switches to freestyle and the men and women will race the same distances as Monday – 10K for men, 5K for women. World Junior Championships berths in Norway and spots at the Under-23 World Championships at Soldier Hollow, Utah, will be determined based on results at the Chevrolet title races.