SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah (Dec. 17) - Two-time Olympian Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) swept a pair of races during the weekend to take over the men's lead in the $130,000 USSA Cross Country SuperTour standings while Caitlin Compton (Minneapolis) retained her women's overall lead and Laura Valaas stayed unbeaten after five sprints.
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| SuperTour Sprint Men's Podium, winner Kris Freeman (center), 2nd place Andy Newell (right), and third place Drew Goldsack (credit: USSA) |
His victories lifted Freeman into second place on the alltime SuperTour wins list, two back of Olympic teammate - and current law student - Carl Swenson, who won 21 times (as did Canadian great Beckie Scott). Freeman will have a chance to pad his total of 19 during the U.S. Short Distance Championships Jan. 3-7 at Michigan Tech in Houghton, MI when nationals races double as SuperTour events.
On the women's side, it was a familiar story - Compton won the distance race in 26:36, seven seconds ahead of Canadian Tasha Betcherman while Valaas rolled to the sprint win, this time by more than 10 seconds.
For photos from the SuperTour: http://ussa.smugmug.com/gallery/2251882
USSA CROSS COUNTRY SuperTour
Soldier Hollow, UT - Dec. 17, 2006
1K Sprint CL (8 made semifinals)
Men
1. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH
2. Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT
3. Drew Goldsack, Canada
4. Sean Crooks, Canada
5. Stephan Kuhn, (No hometown)
6. Lars Flora, Anchorage, AK
7. Torin Koos, Leavenworth, WA
8. Dave Chamberlain, Bethel, ME
--
Women
1. Laura Valaas, Wenatchee, WA
2. Amanda Ammar, Canada
3. Kristin Strandberg, Sweden
4. Tara Whitten, Canada
5. Tasha Betcherman, Canada
6. Kate Whitcomb, Sun Valley, ID
7. Sara Schweiger, Germany
==
Saturday, Dec. 16
Men's 15K FR
1. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 36:04.8
2. Dan Roycroft, Canada, 36:44.1
3. Dave Nighbor, Canada, 36:58.9
4. Andrew Johnson, Greensboro, VT, 37:02.1
5. Drew Goldsack, Canada, 37:10.7
-
Women's 10K FR
1. Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis, 26:36.6
2. Tasha Betcherman, Canada, 26:43.6
3. Evelyn Dong, Bend, OR, 27:26.7
4. Madeleine Williams, Canada, 27:29.4
5. Kate Underwood, Sun Valley, ID, 27:30.3
==
Standings (9 races)
Men's Overall (Yellow Jersey):
1. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH - 120 points (4 wins)
2. Lars Flora, Anchorage, AK - 117 (1)
3. James Southam, Anchorage, AK - 113 (1)
4. Brayton Osgood, Putney, VT - 97 (1)
5. Dan Roycroft, Canada - 89
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Men's Sprint (Blue Jersey)
1. Anders Haugen, Anchorage, AK - 69 points
2. James Southam, Anchorage, AK - 63 (1)
3. Marshall Greene, Bend, OR - 57 (1)
4. Brayton Osgood, Putney, VT - 55 (1)
5. Colin Mahood, Bend, OR - 54
-
Men's Distance (Red Jersey)
1. Kris Freeman, Andover, NH - 90 points (3)
2. Lars Flora, Anchorage, AK - 77 (1)
3. Dan Roycroft, Canada - 71
4. (tie) James Southam, Anchorage, AK, and Dave Nighbor, Canada - 50 each
-
Women's Overall (Yellow Jersey)
1. Caitlyn Compton, Minneapolis - 197 points (3 wins)
2. Laura Valaas, Wenatchee, WA - 165 (5 wins)
3. Karin Camenisch, Switzerland - 102
4. Taz Mannix, Anchorage, AK - 101
5. Kate Pearson, Anchorage, AK - 96
-
Women's Sprint (Blue Jersey):
1. Laura Valaas, Wenatchee, WA - 150 points (5 wins)
2. Caitlyn Compton, Minneapolis - 87
3. Karin Camenisch, Switzerland - 86
4. Kate Pearson, Anchorage, AK - 69
5. Taz Mannix, Anchorage, AK - 52
-
Women's Distance (Red Jersey):
1. Caitlyn Compton, Minneapolis - 110 points (3 wins)
2. Kristina Strandberg, Sweden - 65
3. Amanda Ammar, Canada - 60 (1)
4. Tasha Betcherman, Canada - 57
5. Taz Mannix, Anchorage, AK - 49
For Complete results from Soldier Hollow:
http://summittiming.com/races/race_results.htm
 Sprint winner Kris Freeman recovers after the race (credit: USSA) |
 Kris Freeman (left) and Andy Newell (middle) start the USSA Cross Country SuperTour (credit: USSA) |
