Packer and Miller Score Classic Sprint Titles

HOUGHTON, Michigan (January 9, 2016) – On the final day of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships presented by L.L. Bean, Eric Packer from APU Nordic Ski Center and Kaitlynn Miller from Craftsbury Racing Project claimed the National classic sprint titles.

Kaitlynn Miller (Bib 101) skies to a classic sprint victory at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships presented by L.L. Bean. (CCCSA-Mary Kozloski)

As the snow continued to fall throughout the day, conditions became slower with each passing heat. Eric Packer began the day on skate skis to double pole through the qualifiers, but going into the heats he wanted to save his arms for the finals and switched to classic skis. The switch turned out in his favor as he sprinted to victory just ahead of teammate Reese Hanneman, who won the freestyle sprint National Champion earlier this week. Didrik Elset from Michigan Tech University stole third in a close finish with Tyler Kornfield from APU Nordic Ski Center. Kornfield still had a chance to stand on the podium to claim third for the American podium.

“Winning at Nationals is a dream come true and is an amazing feeling for me,” said Packer. “Winning has been a goal of my for quite some time and finally making that happen was awesome. I was really tired after the 30k going into the sprints today, so during the final heat I really tried to stay focused and relaxed so I could ski as well as I could going into the final stretch.”  

Eric Packer (Bib 5) outsprints Reese Hanneman for the classic sprint victory at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships presented by L.L. Bean. (CCCSA-Mary Kozloski)

In the women’s sprint, Kaitlynn Miller showed her strength once again as she claimed the National title. Miller was undefeated during the sprints, winning the qualifiers as well as each of her heats and the finals. Anne Hart from Stratton Mountain School just came up short in second. Jennie Bender from Bridger Ski Foundation finished third.  Miller has also been on the classic sprint podiums in Period I of the USSA Super Tour Races, but this time she finally reached the top spot.

“I was really happy with how today turned out,” Miller said. “I love classic skiing, so I went out there and tried to go as hard as I could and then carried that momentum through the heats and into the final. It was a fun group to ski with in the finals and a really fun race.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• APU swept the men’s American podium which includes Eric Packer, Reese Hanneman and Tyler Kornfield
• The overall men’s classic sprint podium includes Eric Paker, Reese Hanneman and Didrik Elset.
• The overall women’s classic sprint podium includes, Kaitlynn Miller, Anne Hart and Jennie Bender.
• For the men’s junior final heats, Ian Torchia from Northern Michigan University finished first, Tracen Knopp from Alaska Nordic Racing was second and Logan Diekmann from Bridger Ski Foundation finished third.
• For the women’s junior final heats, Ann-Cathrin Uhl from University of Alaska Fairbanks finished first, Sophie McDonald from Northern Michigan University was second and Emily Hyde from Dartmouth College was third.

QUOTES

Eric Packer
Winning at Nationals is a dream come true and is an amazing feeling for me. Winning has been a goal of my for quite some time and finally making that happen was awesome.

I was really tired after the 30k going into the sprints today so during the final heat I really tried to stay focused and relaxed so I could ski as well as I could going into the final stretch.

Kaitlynn Miller
I was really happy with how today turned out. Said Kaitlynn Miller. I love classic skiing, so I went out there and tried to go as hard as I could and then carried that momentum through the heats and into the final. It was a fun group to ski with in the finals and a really fun race.

RESULTS
Men’s and Women’s Classic Sprints