January 2, 2010 (Anchorage, AK) – Top qualifiers, Kikkan Randall (USST/APUNSC) and Simeon Hamilton (SVSEF) took no prisoners on their way to victory at the 1.3km/1.5km Freestyle Sprints on Saturday at the opening race of the 2010 U.S. National Cross Country Ski Championships. Rebecca Dussault (CXC), 5th in the qualifications, raced herself into 2nd overall with APU speedster Laura Valaas rounding out the podium in 3rd. Mike Hinckley (APU), second last year, mirrored Dussault’s efforts also qualifying 5th and nailing the silver behind Hamilton with Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC) settling for third.

Qualifications
The 2010 U.S. National Cross Country Ski Championships got underway at Kincaid Park in Alaska earlier today as local skier and US XC sprint star Kikkan Randall (USST/APUNSC) lead the women’s 1.3km sprint qualifications in 3:02.65 with Laura Valaas in second at 8.35s followed by Caitlin Compton (Go Training) in 3rd at 9.52s.

Simi Hamilton (SVSEF) lead the charge in the men’s 1.5km sprint qualifications edging out Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC) in second at 0.48s with Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) third at 5.08s

Full Women’s and Men’s Qualifications here.

Senior Women’s 1.3km Sprint full results here.
Senior Men’s 1.5km Sprint full results here.

Senior Women’s 1.3km Sprint Brackets here.
Senior Men’s 1.5km Sprint Brackets here.

Results (unofficial)

Men
1. Simi Hamilton (SVSEF)
2. Mike Hinckley (APU)
3. Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC)
4. Tyler Kornfield (Univ of Alaska)
5. Chris Cook (Steinbock)
6. Mark Iverson (APU)

Women
1. Kikkan Randall (USST/APUNSC)
2. Rebecca Dussault (CXC)
3. Laura Valaas (APUNSC)
4. Holly Brooks (APUNSC)
5. Caitlin Compton (Go Training)
6. Beth Reid (Auburn)

Qualifications (unofficial)

Women
1. Kikkan Randall (USST/APUNSC) 3:02.65
2. Laura Valaas (APUNSC) +8.35
3. Caitlin Compton (Go Training) +9.52
4. Holly Brooks (APUNSC) +10.09
5. Rebecca Dussault (CXC) +12.29
6. Sadie Bjornsen (MVSTA) +12.36

Men
1. Simi Hamilton (SVSEF) 2:49.83
2. Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC) 0.48
3. Mike Sinnott (SVSEF) 5.08
4. Mark Iverson (APU) 5.46
5. Mike Hinckley (APU) 5.49
6. Chris Cook (Steinbock) 5.64
7. Anders Haugen (APU) 6.40
8. Brian Gregg (CXC) 6.44
9. Lars Flora (APU) 6.92
10. Leif Zimmermann (Bridger) 7.06