January 26, 2009 (Mt. Itasca, MN) – It was a good day Sunday, January 26 to be in a CXC Elite team suit as the men’s team swept the podium and put four in the top seven in the 10km skate event. On the women’s Caitlin Compton of CXC won with three teammates in the top eight.

In the men’s race Matt Liebsch (CXC) – fresh off his first World Cup experience and a recent bronze medal in the 10km skate at US Nationals in Anchorage – slowly separated himself from the rest of the field as the course went along to win by 18.3 seconds over teammate Brian Gregg. In third just 21.2 seconds back from Liebsch’s winning time of 24:02.3 was CXC Elite team member Bryan Cook. Luke Vilakainen and Michael Somppi of the Thunder Bay National Team Training centre took 4th and 5th place respectively.

In the women’s race Caitlin Compton dominated the interval start 10km skate winning by a margin of 1-minute over Saab/Salomon’s Kristina Strandberg – the classic winner for the day before. Lindsey Dehlin of the US Ski team was third about 1:50 back from Compton’s time of 27:48.7. Rossignol skier Kate Arduser (APU) was 4th followed by Maria Stuber of CXC Elite.

Complete results here

Results (brief)

Men
1. Matthew Liebsch (CXC) 24:02.3
2. Brian Gregg (CXC) 24:20.6
3. Bryan Cook (CXC) 24:23.5
4. Luke Vilkainen (Big Thunder) NTDC 25:01.4
5. Michael Somppi (Lappe Nordic) NTDC 25:11.7

Women
1. Caitlin Compton (CXC) 27:48.7
2. Kristina Strandberg (Saab/Salomon) 28:48.6
3. Lindsey Dehlin (USST) 29:38.0
4. Kate Arduser (APU) Rossignol 30:05.5
5. Maria Stuber (CXC) 30:49.6