Nordic Events Kick-Off with Freestyle

The Olympic Cross Country Team will get its first starts Monday with the men's 15K and women's 10K freestyle at the Whistler Olympic Park.

Kris Freeman

In the men's 15K, Olympic veterans Kris Freeman (Andover, NH) and James Southam (Anchorage) will join newcomers Garrott Kuzzy (Minneapolis) and Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO). The women will counter with four Olympic rookies including Morgan Arritola (Ketchum, ID), Holly Brooks (Anchorage), Caitlin Compton (Minneapolis), and Liz Stephen (Montpelier, VT).

The women kick it off at 10:30 a.m. at the Whistler Olympic Park with the men at 12:30 p.m.

Freeman is expected to lead the men's field. Although traditionally better in the classic technique, finishing fourth at World Championships last year, Freeman broke through with a seventh in a 15K free in Davis, Switzerland last December.

On the women's side, Compton and Brooks were strong last weekend in a World Cup 10K freestyle in Canmore, AB. Compton was 14th and Brooks 24th. It was the first World Cup weekend for Brooks and only second for Compton.