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.
Newell, who has skied to World Cup podiums in the past, will be making his second Olympic appearance. He has been consistently among the top qualifiers in World Cup sprints this season in both classic and freestyle technique and is considered one of the sport's fastest skiers.
Freeman, who will become another three-time Olympian, has twice finished fourth in the 15K classic event at World Championships. He is also a diabetic and has worked with USSA Sport Science on the management of the disease in race conditions. After surgery last spring for compartment syndrome, he's come back stronger than ever and was just off the podium in an early season World Cup.
The Olympic Team coaching staff will be headed by two-time Olympian Pete Vordenberg. 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.
Other past Olympians include Torin Koos, who has skied to a World Cup podium and is competing in his third Olympics, and 2006 Team member James Southam. First time Olympians making the 2010 squad are Morgan Arritola, Caitlin Compton and Liz Stephen. 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
Holly Brooks, Anchorage, 27, 4/17/82
Caitlin Compton, Minneapolis, 29, 11/7/80
Kris Freeman, Andover, NH, 29, 10/14/80 (2002, 2006)
Simi Hamilton, Aspen, CO, 22, 5/14/87
Torin Koos, Leavenworth, 29, 7/19/80 (2002, 2006)
Garrott Kuzzy, Minneaplis, 27, 11/26/82
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
