MIDWAY, Utah – The University of Denver ski team begins the 2024 collegiate campaign this week at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center with races being held in conjunction with the U.S. Cross Country National Championships.
 
The opening two events of the U.S. Nationals will be part of the Westminster Invitational, while DU and the other Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association squads will also compete in classic sprints on Sunday in a race that will serve as an extra qualification event for the 2024 NCAA Championships.
 
Denver begins the U.S. National Championships and Westminster Invite on Tuesday with the men's and women's 10-kilometer classical before freestyle sprints conclude the collegiate meet on Thursday.
 
Most of the student-athletes will also race on Friday in the 10K freestyle mass start, but that event is only part of the national championships and won't count toward NCAA Championship qualification. All of the races at Solider Hollow are also part of the U.S. Super Tour series, while the Jan. 7 classic sprints have been designated as a non-national championship race.
 
DU's Nordic squad took part in one pre-season event as a team, with the Pioneers racing in the Western Canada Cup at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club in British Columbia, Canada, in December. Many of Denver's athletes have also taken part in other races on their own in preparation for the season while back home during the holiday break.
 
Below is the schedule for this week's races at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships.
 
U.S. Cross Country National Championships Schedule
 
Westminster Invitational
Tuesday, Jan. 2 – Nordic 10K classic, interval start
            Women – 9 a.m. MT
            Men – 12 p.m. MT
Thursday, Jan. 4 – Nordic freestyle sprints & junior races
            Qualification begins – 9 a.m. MT
            Heats begin – 1 p.m. MT
            Junior heats begin – 3:15 p.m. MT
 
Non-NCAA Race
Friday, Jan. 5 – Nordic 10K freestyle, mass start
Races begin at 9 a.m. MT
 
RMISA Qualifier
Sunday, Jan. 7 – Nordic classic sprints & junior races
            Qualification begins – 9 a.m. MT
            Heats begin – 1 p.m. MT
            Junior heats begin – 3:15 p.m. MT
 

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