CXC Strong in Mt. Itasca SuperTour
By Brian Gregg
It was a good weekend for the CXC Team at the first stop in the Midwest Grand Prix. Bryan Cook and Caitlin Compton led the team with a second place finish and Caitlin Compton 3rd in the first day of competition. I had one of my better classic distance results finishing in a tight group of times for 4th place. Sunday was an even better day for the team with Compton winning by a minute and the CXC Men sweeping the podium.
Mathew Liebsch led the sweep in the 10km Freestyle ahead of myself and Bryan Cook. Splits had Liebsch and me tied at 4km but Liebsch built an 18 second lead on the second lap to win his first SuperTour. Cook who is known to be a strong finisher closed to just 3 seconds behind me at the finish. We had a good lead over the rest of the field, finishing 40 seconds ahead of fourth place, Canadian Luke Vilakinen (NTDC/Big Thunder Nordic). Santiago Ocariz of University of Wisconsin Green Bay continues his strong season posting the top collegiate time.
Caitlin Compton of CXC led from the wand to win the Women’s race by a minute. Although the race was interval start Compton crossed the line in an exciting sprint finish ahead of CXC teammates Kristina Owen (8th) and Maria Stuber (5th). Kristina Strandberg (Saab/Salomon) finished second with a 50 second gap on third place Lindsey Dehlin (USST). Kelly Chaudoin of Gustavus Adolphus won her first collegiate race, nearly a minute ahead of the next college skier.
