January 5, 2008 (Houghton, Michigan) – U.S. sprint stars Andy Newell and Kikkan Randall led from start to finish Saturday en route to defending their sprint crowns at the U.S. Cross Country Championships.

It was the third straight sprint title for Randall and second in 48 hours afrter winning the 10km classic technique championship Thursday at Michigan Tech. Overall, the two-time Olympian has won eight championships – five sprint titles and three gold medals in distance races.

Laura Valaas, who will pair with Randall Sunday in the team sprint, was the women’s silver medalist. Karin Camenisch, who is hoping to make the 2010 Swiss Olympic Team, finished third but the bronze medal was awarded to Caitlin Compton, who finished fourth, because medals and titles at the U.S. nationals go only to American skiers.

Men’s Sprint

Newell made it two national sprint championships in a row. Like Randall, he led the 1.3km qualifying lap and then tore through each heat, winning handily every time. World Cup teammate Torin Koos finished second with Vahur Teppan, an Estonian student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in third place – but the bronze went to Simeon Hamilton, a Middlebury College skier from Colorado.

“It turned out to be colder than we anticipated last night, so we had a lot of warmer skis out to test,” Newell said. “So, we had to change skis around, think quick, scrape skis and get the right wax.”

U.S. Ski Team coaches scrambled to make the changes and the men went out and raced. Newell fired through the prologue and then felt a little shaky, but there was enough before the final heats for his stomach to settle and he dominated as he had hoped.

“Maybe I started too hard because I didn’t feel good coming in,” he said. But his speed and experience left others feeling sick once the elimination heats got underway.

The Team sprints Sunday conclude the short and medium-distance title races. The long-distance championships will be determined March 28-30 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Also up for grabs this week, in addition to titles, are nomination to the World Junior Championships and Under-23 vChampionships Team as well as World Cup start berths for the races Jan. 22-26 in Canmore, Alberta, and places on a junior trip to Scandinavian Cup races.

Full Sprint results or visit www.seniornationals.org.