January 03, 2016 (Houghton, Michigan) – In family tradition, and not to be out-done by her younger brother, Caitlin Patterson of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project stormed home in the Women’s 10km classic to win by a decisive 36-second margin. Patterson started the race in the middle of the A-seeded group with, as she put it, “plenty of fast women”. She paced herself smartly, producing a very strong second lap to hold off her GRP teammate Kaitlynn Miller who claimed second.

Women's podium © USSA

Miller, who missed the 10km race at US Nationals last year, recorded her first podium and first top-ten finish at US Nationals. The first A seed starter on course today, Miller turne her seemingly unlucky start position into a positive race, chasing down many of the B seeded skiers in front of her. With a solid, better-than-expected-season so far, Miller said she was aiming for a top 10 or even a top six. Needless to say, she was very pleased to find herself fighting it out for a medal.

Breaking up the sea of green on the podium was Chelsea Holmes of the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center. Holmes, who decisively beat Patterson at their most recent encounter at the SuperTour in Sun Valley, finished just over a minute behind of the winner. “There’s lots of time to be made up in funny places” she said, about the course, “You need to keep the pressure on throughout the course.” Holmes did admit that she thought the waxing conditions today were “super tricky out there. I don’t think anyone had perfect skis.”

In an impressive show of dominance, Green Racing Project, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center and Stratton Mountain Skiing each put three athletes in the top 10. Eliska Hajkova of Boulder Nordic Junior Racing was the only woman to break up the elite ski club’s party finishing in 6th place.

For the future, Patterson said she is just focussed on this week. Both Patterson and Holmes have Ski Tour Canada as a goal for the end of season. Patterson is hoping that a strong showing at the US Nationals will secure her a spot for the Canadian Tour, which will give her the focus and freedom to train properly in the build up to those races in March. But for now the duo said their attention and focus is to ski the best races as possible at the US Nationals in Michigan. The next big showdown is the women’s 20km Freestyle mass start. “I’m super pumped. I love skating and I love long distance racing,” said Holmes.

And Patterson final words? “It was a great day for the family and to watch Scott win. He has already commended to me as I won by more than he did today.” She says she’ll remember that just in case she needs more bragging rights in the future.

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