January 04, 2014 (Soldier Hollow, UT ) – With sunny skies and hard packed tracks, Soldier Hollow, UT stayed true to form today for the start of the 2014 US Cross Country Championships, Jan 4-10. After what has been a ground-breaking year for US skiers in the Tour de Ski, positive energy and Olympic hype has trickled its way down to the domestic circuit to provide for a competitive atmosphere at the site of the 2002 Olympic games.

Eric Bjornsen in action © Annie Pokorny

A challenging course littered with long, steep hills and ripping descents promised to overload many athletes but Alaska Pacific University (APU) teammates Becca Rorabough and Erik Bjornsen accepted the challenge and came out on top. Rorabough topped the 141-strong field in the women 10km Cl while Bjornsen was the fastest of all 185 men in their 15-kilometer classic race.

“I was trying to ingrain good, smooth classic striding,” said Rorabough of her plan throughout the race. Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg) and Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury Green Team) followed Rorabough in second and third.

“I love the courses here,” said Gregg. “My skis were incredible today and I felt great!” Starting with bib number one, Gregg faced the challenge of pacing the race alone, as most skiers had the opportunity to race with others due to the shortened 15-second intervals. She finished 14 seconds behind Rorabough.

Caitlin Gregg © Ian Harvey/Toko

“It was a good start to the week,” said Patterson of her podium, “I was feeling pretty solid and in control on the second lap by the end I was getting splits that I was in third place and was definitely happy to hear that, definitely moving up.”

Anja Gruber (University of Vermont) finished in 4th place as the top U23 skier just ahead of 7th-placed Katherine Ogden of Stratton Mountain School (SMS) who was the day’s leading junior.

On the men’s side, Bjornsen snagged the 15K title over APU teammate Reese Hanneman by 11 seconds followed by Kris Freeman (Maine Winter Sports) 22 seconds back. The conditions remained steady throughout the men’s race, allowing for clean waxing conditions and close split times.

Reese Hanneman © Ian Harvey/Toko

“Going up the top of Hermod’s into the last climb I was starting to cramp,” said Bjornsen, “but I was like ‘if I’m close, I think I’m gonna be able to win.’”

Hanneman said that the result was better than he could have expected. Keen on the altitude, he took his pace out slow and built up throughout the laps. He explained, “I was hearing really good splits while I was skiing easy so it’s amazing for things to come together like that, to feel strong even with such huge hills.”

Bjornsen was also the first U23 finisher, followed by the top junior finisher Adam Martin of the University of Northern Michigan, who tied for 15th place.

Most skiers from low altitude training centers and had opinions on the high altitude course, which claimed a total of 15 DNFs. “I was really surprised that even if you do have a really good race at altitude there are still times that you do slightly fall apart,” said Rorabough. Bjornsen agreed, describing a half-kilometer mid race where he reached a “bad place.”

Tomorrow morning skate sprinters will test their skills on a revised course that includes the famed Hermod’s hill. After two off days the racers will return for skate distance and classic sprint races.

Full results HERE.