March 28, 2014 (Anchorage, Alaska) – Sadie Bjornsen (APU) tapped into every ounce of energy she could muster to pull off a stunning victory in the women’s 30km classic race at the 2014 U.S. National Championships.

The 24-year-old Olympian and member of Alaska Pacific University (APU) finished 29 seconds ahead of Liz Stephen and more than two minutes ahead of teammate Kikkan Randall for a storybook finish to her 2013-14 season as she takes home the biggest domestic victory of her young career – Bjornsen was also on the World Cup podium with Kikkan Randall in 2011 taking Team Sprint silver in Dusseldorf.

“I wanted it more than ever,” said Bjornsen, who finished the challenging 30-K course in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 38 seconds.

Bjornsen is originally from Washington State, but has called Alaska home ever since she enrolled at APU in Anchorage. Ironically, though, she did not have much experience skiing Friday’s course at the Hillside Ski Area on the east side of town.

The ski area is famous for being the home of Spencer Loop, a long and steady 290-meter climb up into the foothills of the Chugach Mountains. Bjornsen, who spends Anchorage’s ski season (November to April) competing outside of Alaska, only gets to train on Spencer Loop during the summer months.

“It’s world class — one of the hardest courses we’ve skied all year,” Bjornsen said. “It’s awesome because we’re at sea level so we have an ample supply of air. But you put this trail in some altitude and it would break people big time.”

Spencer Loop consists of three climbs, and Bjornsen, who led for the majority of the race but couldn’t seem to shake off Stephen, finally broke free from her U.S. Ski Team teammate on the third and final uphill. “I led going up Spencer Loop, but she was really strong over the top,” Stephen said about Bjornsen. “She made a break and I had no prayer.”

With Bjornsen taking control for good, Stephen still had to worry about the two skiers chasing after her: Randall (APU) and Jessie Diggins (Stratton Mountain School). “I’m the type who doesn’t win a sprint,” Stephen said, “so I couldn’t let them catch back up.”

Randall, a 17-time national champion, finished third (1:38:06) while Diggins (1:38:14) placed fourth and Ida Sargent nabbed fifth (1:38:56). Stephen said she was happy to see Bjornsen take her fourth career national title, but her first against a field of World Cup skiers. “Part of my brain was actually rooting for Sadie,” Stephen said. “She skied a really gutsy and strong race.”

Stephen told Bjornsen a couple of days ago she thought she had a good shot at winning the 30-K, even though Randall was the favourite to win. Bjornsen started the season strong, but battled with sickness midway through it, which in turn affected her results.

“It’s pretty easy to get frustrated and down on yourself, but she never does that,” Stephen added. “It’s great to see her back on top. She has a lot more to come, too. She’s just hitting the surface of what she’s capable of.”

Results here.