January 3, 2008 (Houghton, Michigan) – Kikkan Randall shook off whatever slowed her two days earlier at the U.S. Cross country Championships and skied to the seventh title of her career, winning the 10km classic technique women’s race Thursday.

Ivan Babikov, the 2006 Russian Olympian who is seeking Canadian citizenship, made it two wins in two days at Michigan Tech Nordic Ski Center. He has the fastest 15km time again – 40.51.3, but with medals going only to U.S. citizens, Lars Flora got his fourth gold medal. He was second fastest in 41:59.0.

“I felt pretty good. My skis felt just great – fast and the kick was good,” said Babikov, who races for The Factory Team in the USA and for XC.com in Canada.

“I started hard but after two kilometres of double-poling I was already six seconds behind Kris [Freeman]. Once the uphills started, I managed to get some time back and at the end of the first loop I was leading by 15 seconds. Most of the course had long, gradual uphills, which were perfect for striding. I managed to gain a lot of time there I think.

“For most of the seconds loop, I just tried to keep the pace up and focused on technique.”

Freeman was second through the first 7.5km lap, but slowed dramatically through the back half of the race as the lack of training after catching a cold while racing on the world Cup tour in Europe last month sapped his energy. After the race, Head Coach Pete Vordenberg said Freeman would go back to New Hampshire to rest and train before the Jan. 22-26 World Cup races in Canmore, Alberta.

“He’s not in a good space now, so he’s going home. He was sick and his training went downhill. You lose your fitness in that situation, so you have to train some more and get it back,” Vordenberg explained.

Women’s Race

Randall led all the way to finish with a time of 30:42.2 with Swedish skier Kristina Strandberg in second place at 31:04.1. Morgan Arritola was third (31:35.1) and took the silver medal, another half-minute back. Bronze medalist was Kate Arduser, the fourth-place finisher in 31:43.1.

It’s Randall third distance championship (she won the 10km CL and 5km freestyle title in 24 hours Jan. 7-8, 2006) to go with four sprint gold medals.

Randall, who finished a mystifying 10th on Tuesday in the 5km skate race, had some heartburn early in the 10km when she headed into the first climb and her arms began to burn a bit. After another kilometre, the irritation had disappeared and she shifted gears.

“I was charging from then on,” she said. “I came on strong in the second half of the race.”

With plenty of snow in Houghton – in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula snow belt, organizers have opened more terrain and greater variety than a year ago when a lack of snow limited the loops.

“It’s a constantly changing grade,” according to Randall. “You have to change tempo and figure out how to run the uphills…

“It’s work, work, work the whole time.” It’s a formula that agrees with her.

The schedule turns from distance races to sprints for the weekend. Saturday in the skating sprint, Randall will be looking to defend the title she won a year ago. Sunday it’s the team sprint and the defending champions probably will be split up – Laura Valaas is part of the U.S. Ski Team now and trains with Alaska Pacific University Nordic, which is Randall’s home club, and they figure to be paired for that race. Caitlin Compton will need to find another partner to defend her share of the team title.

Results (brief)

Men

1. Ivan Babikov (Factory Team/X-C.com) 40.51.3
2. Lars Flora (Factory Team) 41:59.0
3. Andrey Golovko (Factory Team)
4. Kris Freeman (USST)
5. Chris Cook (USST)

Women

1. Kikkan Randall (USST/APU) 30:42.2
2. Kristina Strandberg (Factory Team) 31:04.1
3. Morgan Arritola (USST/SVSEF) 31:35.1
4. Kate Arduser (Rossignol/APU) 31:43.1
5. Caitlin Compton (CXC)

Full Women’s results.

Full Men’s results.