Web cams help fans follow action at U.S. XC nats

When the U.S. Cross Country Championships open on Jan. 1 in Houghton, Mich., virtual visitors can see all of the action from the Michigan Tech Nordic Training Center.
WHEN THE U.S. Cross Country Championships open on Jan. 1 in Houghton, Mich., virtual visitors can see all of the action from the Michigan Tech Nordic Training Center.
    Three web cams, including streaming video and the audio from the event announcer, will be available during all of the races. One camera will cover the start area and another will catch all of the finishers.
    Click here for links to the webcams, start lists, results and other information.
    The nordic skiing national championships include four races over a week. The first will be the classic technique distance race on Tuesday, Jan. 1, with the freestyle distance race on Thursday, Jan. 3. The individual sprint contest takes place Saturday, Jan. 5, and the team sprints on Jan. 6.

Some 450 athletes will compete in a week of national title races. Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) will be looking to add to his 10 U.S. championships. All races are also part of the USSA Cross Country SuperTour, so he will be looking to extend his own record of 23 SuperTour victories. Sprinter Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK), who became the first U.S. woman to win a World Cup race Dec. 16 in Russia, is the defending champion and is after her fifth national sprint gold medal.

The U.S. Cross Country Championships schedule (all times ET):

Tuesday, Jan. 1 – Freestyle Technique
– Women's 5K at 10:30 a.m.
– Men's 10K at 12 noon

Thursday, Jan. 3 – Classic Technique
– Men and women's 5.6K sit-ski race at 9 a.m.
– Men's 15K at 10 a.m.
– Women's 10K at 2 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 4 – Sit-ski sprint
– Men and women's ski-ski at 9 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 5 – Freestyle sprint
– Qualification round at 9 a.m.
– Finals at 1 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 6 – Classic team sprint
– Men and women's team sprint at 9:30 a.m.