January 06, 2011 (Rumford, ME) – Liz Stephen, East Montpellier, VT, took charge in the women’s 20km freestyle event winning by just under a minute over APU’s Holly Brooks who landed on the podium for the second time at the US XC Ski Championship in Rumford. Stephen’s USST team mate, Morgan Arritola, from Fairfield, ID, who raced out of the Sun Valley Education Foundation before being named to the U.S. Ski Team, placed third.

Stephen was encouraged by her result. “I felt great out there and the course held up well,” said the winner. “I tried to put myself in a world cup race and make it even a bigger deal to get all that I wanted out of myself. I got some splits along the way but mostly was just going off the body. A big thanks to all the volunteers for making a great course.”

Full results HERE.

Results (brief)

1. Liz Stephen (Burke Mountain Academy/U.S. Ski Team), 50:03.5
2. Holly Brooks (Alaska Pacific University), 51:01.3
3. Morgan Arritola(Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation/U.S. Ski Team), 51:19.1
4. Caitlin Compton (Central Cross Country Skiing), 51:27.2
5. Kate Fitzgerald (Alaska Pacific University), 52:01.2
6. Evelyn Dong (Cross Country Oregon), 52:29.5
7. Chelsea Holmes (Sugar Bowl Academy), 52:43.5
8. Morgan Smyth (Alaska Pacific University), 52:44.7
9. Nicole Deyong (Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation), 52:47.9
10. Jennie Bender (Central Cross Country Skiing), 53:07.9

December 30, 2010 (Rumford, ME) – Amidst the Nor’easter that has pummeled the East Coast, 2011 is approaching fast with the U.S. Cross Country Championships opening the new year in Rumford, Jan. 2-8. Headlining the event are U.S. Ski Team athletes including U.S. Champion Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO) as well as Liz Stephen (East Montpellier, VT) and Morgan Arritola (Fairfield, ID), who are carrying the momentum from their best World Cup finishes, and Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO).

Fourteen inches of new snow will allow for the four events, two sprint and two distance races, to run smoothly. The sprint track is looking good with an ample amount of packed snow, both fresh and man-made, for the power skaters to charge the course. The distance tracks are on the leaner side, but a combination of new snow and great snow guns have provided enough coverage for the race.

The U.S. Ski Team’s elite will front a field of 422 athletes who will take to the start in the historic town of Rumford. With 72 hours to go, athletes are traveling to the northeastern part of the U.S. with hopes of winning a coveted U.S. Championship title.

While Hamilton looks to continue his U.S. Championship streak, Stephen, Arritola, Hoffman and the rest of the field will be looking to earn some serious hardware. In addition to the U.S. Championship titles up for grabs, spots for the Junior Scandinavian Championship, Junior World Championship and U-23 World Championship trips are on the line as well. The U.S. Championships are also the final races before the World Championships team selection.

With a lot at stake, spectators and fans can expect an all out display of strength, speed and endurance as the skiers push off the line during the U.S. Championship series.

More information about the 2011 U.S. Cross Country Championships is available HERE.