Advertisement

Endestad wins ninth cross-country title

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaskan Audun Endestad of the U.S. Ski Team turned up the heat in near-zero cold Sunday to narrowly win a record ninth cross-country national championships.

Endestad's time in the 30-kilometer classic technique race, the first individual men's event of the Subaru U.S. Cross Country Championships at Kincaid Park, was one hour, 28 minutes and 12.5 seconds.

Advertisement

He defeated by four seconds Kevin Brochman, of Stillwater, Minn., whose time was 1:28.16.1. Joe Galanes, a University of Vermont skier from Brattleboro, Vt., third in 1:28.22.7.

Earlier, Nancy Fiddler of Crowley Lake, Calif., earned her seventh national title by taking the 15-km classic race in 49:45.2. Nina Kemppel, a sophomore at Dartmouth College who grew up skiing at Kincaid Park, was second in 51:00.6. Third went to 1988 NCAA champion Brenda white of Williston, Vt., who finished in 51:09.5.

Endestad's victory broke a tie with Olympic medalist and 1982 World Cup champion Bill Koch and four-time Olympian Tim Caldwell.

'I'm really pleased,' said Endestad, a native of Norway who became a U.S. citizen on the eve of the 1984 Winter Olympics. 'It was an advantage to have Kevin start 30 seconds ahead of me because I knew how fast I had to go.'

Advertisement

Brochman, a two-time Olympian, said he had been leading by six seconds going into an uphill a kilometer from the finish when Endestad out-raced him.

'I led for 29 kilometers,' said Brochman, 'but he made-up 10 seconds on me right at the end.'

The championships resume Tuesday with the women's 5-kilometer freestyle (skating) race and the men's 10-kilometer event.

Latest Headlines