January 04, 2012 (Rumford, ME) – On a classic clear and cold winter’s day the 2012 USSA Cross Country Cross Country Skiing Championships got underway at the Black Mountain of Maine with the men’s and women’s freestyle  sprints on a hyper-fast track.

Winning the women’s 1.4km sprints was USST-CXC athlete Jesse Diggins of Afton, MN who has enjoyed nothing short of a whirlwind year. The cheery Diggins took the win over CXC teammate Caitlin Gregg, while third position went to former UVM skier Jennie Bender, giving CXC a sweep of the podium. It was a tremendous day for high school senior Corey Stock of CSU, out of Lincoln, MA, finishing fourth. Stock is expected to attend Dartmouth College next Fall, and ski for the Big Green.

Following the race Diggins, who topped the qualifications as well, shared the joy with her team and and was clearly thrilled. “It was a great day for me, and for my teammates as we went 1-2-3, that’s the best part, it was the most amazing feeling. I am happy that it all came together, but I’m still learning everyday and still working on my technique.”

Adding to the sprint title he took here one year ago, former USST skier Torin Koos, who now skis for the Bridger Ski Foundation, looked fit and fresh today taking the national title in the men’s 1.6km sprint. Koos, clearly enjoys skiing here at Rumford and it showed again today.

But the last six months have not been easy as Koos has battled a serious shoulder injury and mono stating that his win a very important one. “This is very big for me today. I needed this, The race treated me well and I feel like my season is just getting going. After what I have gone thru, I just hope that I can get back to the level I was before,” Koos told SkiTrax.

Audio Interview with Koos

Koos, who qualified 6th, needed to be on form to match the torrid tempo of the number one qualifier from the morning’s session as former Dartmouth skier Dakota Blackhorse-Von Jess, skiing for the Bend Endurance Academy, finished a very impressive second place. Third place went to Tyler Kornfield of UAF. Vail’s Sylvan Ellefson took fourth, while fifth went to former US Olympian Lars Flora of APU.

In the Junior sprint competition today Middlebury College’s Austin Cobb took the men’s crown while Dartmouth frosh Carly Wynn – a biathlete – took the junior women’s title.

Action continues tomorrow with Men’s and Women’s Adaptive .08km sprints, slated for 9AM.

Full results HERE.