Tough Slow Going in Classic Sprints

HOUGHTON, MI (Jan. 6, 2015) - Rosie Brennan (Park City, UT) and Dakota Blackhorse Von Jess (Bend, OR) came for a classic sprint and left after winning what felt like a series of four short distance races.  The qualification and heats around the U.S. Cross Country Championships were long (nearly four minutes) and slowed by wind and newly fallen cold snow. The Michigan Tech trails lack the vertical of last year’s venue at Soldier Hollow, but challenge was everywhere.

 

“There was not much to do but sit and wait when a race is four and a half minutes long,” Blackhorse von Jess explained following his win, which saw him break away halfway through the heat to win convincingly and alone. 

 

“I had Cole (Morgan) on my heels throughout the semi-final and when I felt a few clicks in the final, I skied away.” Blackhorse von Jess took the win over U23 skier, Ben Saxton (Lakeville, MN), a sprinter focused on racing well at the upcoming U23 Championships in Almaty, Khazakstan, a 2022 Olympic bid city. 

 

“I did everything I could to win today,” Saxton explained, “But I didn’t get out well at the start and that was on me. Overall I have to be happy.” Rounding out the men’s podium was Norwegian guest Haakon Hjelstuen, the morning’s qualification winner.

 

The women’s race unfolded similarly, this time with APU skier Rosie Brennan winning convincingly in her final heat. “It was definitely a tough day with a heat taking somewhere over five minutes in some cold, slow snow, but I had some rocking boards and was feeling fit so I just kept pushing,” Brennan explained. En route to winning, Brennan skied away from APU teammate, Becca Rorabaugh (Fairbanks, AK) and Craftsbury Green Racing Project skier Liz Guiney (Park City, UT). 

 

The U.S. Cross Country Championships continue on Thursday with a 15K / 30K classic mass start event. 

 

 

I’m excited about today. This was always part of the plan, to win this while ramping up to be ready for the World Championships in February. This wasn’t the focus, but I knew I could do this and I’m happy I did.

 

I look at things differently since missing out on the Olympic Team. I was very reflective about returning to skiing again this year and I did because I know I can be in the top thirty in the world, I ski with Simi (Hamilton) and Andy (Newell) enough during the year that I know I can ski with them and I know they are top thirty in the world skiers.

 

It’s always exciting to win but this is my second championship and the goal is to put myself in a position to make the World Championship team and to win the sprint Super Tour to compete with the best in the world. 

 

I did everything I could to win today. But I didn’t get out well at the start of the final and that was on me. Overall I have to be happy as I skied well, my skis were amazing, the coaches did a great job and I gave it everything I have.

 

It was definitely a tough day with a heat taking somewhere over 5 minutes in some cold, slow snow, but I had some rocking boards and was feeling fit so I just kept pushing.