TORINO: XC: U.S. team kicks off action in Pragelato pursuits{mosimage}PRAGELATO, Italy - The U.S. cross-country ski team begins its Olympic medal competition Sunday with the 15-kilometer women's pursuit and the men's 30 km pursuit.

The women's race starts at 10 a.m. Torino time with the men's to follow at 1:45 p.m.

The four-member U.S. women's squad consists of Rebecca Dussault, Abigail Larson, Lindsey Weier and Lindsay Williams.

Competing on the men's side will be Lars Flora, Andrew Johnson, James Southam and Carl Swenson.

The cross-country pursuit consists of two races in one day. The women ski a pair of 7.5 km races, while the men double up on 15 km races. The racers start in classic technique and switch to freestyle midway through, changing their equipment in a midrace "pit stop."

- USSA