An official announcement is expected later today, Tuesday, January 26th, that APU Coach Holly Brooks is packing her bags for Vancouver.
Brooks was disappointed last week when an eight-member Olympics cross-country team was announced that did not include her. She'd hoped at superb season on the Super Tour domestic skiing circuit and a strong showing at the U.S. Championships at Kincaid Park would be enough to vault her onto the team.
But quota system in place this season that bases each country's team size to World Cup performance left the door ajar for Brooks. The more skiers a country has in the top 300 of the world rankings, the more they can take to the Olympics.
Not all countries were expected to fill their quotas, though, allowing some late additions when those spots became available today.
That's exactly what got Brooks an Olympic berth.
To view the APU Press Release, click here.
To read the full ADN article, click here.
To see the KTUU coverage, Anchorage's Holly Brooks named to Olympic Ski Team, click here.
Two APU Skiers named to 2010 Olympic Cross Country Team
Alaskans Kikkan Randall and James Southam, both who train with the Alaska Pacific University cross country ski team, were two of the eight athletes named today to the 2010 Olympic Cross Country Ski Team by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt, together with the U.S. Olympic Committee and Team partner Visa, announced the roster of athletes to compete in the cross country events at the Whistler Olympic Park north of Vancouver. The Olympic Team coaching staff will be headed by two
‐time Olympian Pete Vordenberg.
"We are exceptionally proud of Alaska Pacific University’s ski program and of these great athletes," said APU Board of Trustees vice chair Trigg Davis.”It is a tribute to the ski program and its coaches that APU skiers make up 25% of this year’s Olympic Cross Country ski team.”
Randall, who will be taking part in her third Olympics, became the first American woman to win a World Championships silver medal in the freestyle sprint last year. Her focus this season has been to expand her skills in the classic sprint and distance races. The individual Olympic sprint will be classic technique, with the team sprint freestyle.
Southam, who will be taking part in his second Olympics, qualified for the team through results scored on the USSA National Ranking List. He recently won his fifth national title at the 2010 US National Ski Championships held at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.
The 2010 Team is smaller than in the past, the result of a new Olympic quota system. U.S. officials are also optimistic of the possibility of additional quota spots becoming available
later in January. "While the Team is smaller, we're also still confident of both having the athletes to challenge for top results while at the same time preparing first‐time Olympians for the future," said Vordenberg.
Athletes are presently training around the country, preparing for a pre
‐Olympic camp and World Cup on the 1988 Olympic trials in Canmore, AB Feb. 1‐8. The team will arrive in Vancouver on Feb. 9 to prepare for a schedule that includes 12 medal events.
The Team is subject to final review by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
2010 U.S. OLYMPIC CROSS COUNTRY SKI TEAM
(name, hometown, age as of opening ceremonies, birthdate, (past Olympics))
Morgan Arritola, Ketchum, ID, 23, 5/13/86
Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis, 29, 11/7/80
Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 29, 10/14/80 (2002, 2006)
Torin Koos, Leavenworth, 29, 7/19/80 (2002, 2006)
Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT, 25, 11/30/84 (2006)
Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, 27, 12/31/82 (2002, 2006)
James Southam, Anchorage, 31, 6/5/78 (2006)
Liz Stephen, Montpelier, VT, 22, 1/12/87
To watch the APU press conference, click here.