Both freestyle races were decided by one-half second, and both were won by teams that were in second place entering the sixth and final legs of the event at Birch Hill.
Morgan Smyth of Northern Michigan University and Elizabeth Stephen of Burke Mountain Academy won the women's race in 23 minutes, 19.3 seconds.
Stephen's last 1.5-kilometer leg of 3:53.3, the second-fastest final split in the field, pulled her and Smyth to victory. Caitlin Compton and Maria Stuber, who entered the final leg in third place, claimed silver in 23:19.8, with Stuber's final leg of 3:52.8 representing the fastest split. Kristina Strandberg and Kristina Trygstad-Saari owned first place after five legs -- granted, by .6 of a second -- but slipped to third place after Trygstad-Saari's final leg of 3:58.9.
U.S. Ski Team member Kikkan Randall of Anchorage, who recently won a silver medal at the World Championships to become the first American woman to win a medal in that competition, teamed with Katie Ronsse of Anchorage to finish fourth in 23:35.6. They were in second place after Randall's second leg, the team's fourth leg overall, but faded in the last two legs. The team relay consisted of each team skiing six loops of the 1.5-K course, with team members alternating legs.
In the men's race, U.S. Ski Team members Christopher Cook and Torin Koos were in second place through five legs, but used Koos' torrid final lap to prevail in 20:17.5.
Garrott Kuzzy and Leif Zimmerman earned second place in 20:18.0. Bronze went to Anders Haugen and Lars Flora of Anchorage in 20:19.1. That team rallied after falling as far back as sixth place after three legs.
The team relay was contested at the distance nationals because sub-zero temperatures in January canceled the event when it was scheduled as part of the U.S. nordic championships in Anchorage.
Racing in Fairbanks continues Friday with the men's and women's pursuit races, then wraps Sunday with the men's 50-K classic and the women's 30-K classic.
U.S. Nordic Distance Nationals At Birch Hill, Fairbanks
Wednesday's Team Relay Freestyle
6 laps of 1.5-kilometer loop
Women's Top 10
1) Morgan Smyth-Elizabeth Stephen 23:19.4; 2) Caitlin Compton-Maria Stuber 23:19.8; 3) Kristina Strandberg-Kristina Trygstad-Saari 23:24.2; 4) Katie Ronsse-Kikkan Randall 23:35.6; 5) Kate Pearson-Arduser-Becca Rorabaugh 24:09.8; 6) Nicole DeYong-Morgan Arritola 24:16.6; 7) Julia Pierson-Anna Coulter 24:45.7; 8) Lindsey Dehlin-Evelyn Dong 24:45.9; 9) Kate Fitzgerald-Corinne Prevot 24:51.9; 10) Sadie Bjornsen-Amy Glen 24:52.8
Men's Top 10
1) Christopher Cook-Torin Koos 20:17.5; 2) Garrott Kuzzy-Leif Zimmerman 20:18.0; 3) Anders Haugen-Lars Flora 20:19.1; 4) Stefan Kuhn-Graham Nishikawa 20:19.5; 5) Mike Sinnott-Colin Rodgers 20:32.5; 6) Matt Liebsch-Brian Gregg 20:44.4; 7) Tyson Flaharty-Reese Hanneman 20:49.0; 8) Brayton Osgood-Dave Chamberlain 20:52.6; 9) Matt Gelso-Mike Hinckley 20:53.0; 10) Eric Packer-Scott Patterson 21:19.9.
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