UAF’s Kendall Kramer wins classic mass-start race at U.S. ski championships to claim her first national title

Kendall Kramer is accustomed to reaching the podium against the best competition in the country, in both cross country running and skiing.

Between the two sports, the University of Alaska Fairbanks senior endurance student-athlete had racked up a quartet of runner-up finishes, including in the NCAA Division II national cross country championship this past fall and Thursday’s 10K freestyle at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Anchorage at Kincaid Park.

With one more shot to reach the top of the podium in Sunday’s 20K classic mass start race, Kramer made the most of it: Not only did she win her first national title, but she also was the top overall finisher in a field that included American and international skiers.

“It’s super awesome and I had no idea that was what would happen today,” she said. “It was, honestly, a really chill race. I had a fun time, just rolled with what happened and I’m happy with the outcome.”

International athletes attending colleges or representing American-based clubs often take part in these competitions but aren’t eligible to be crowned the U.S. national champion, even if they cross the finish line first — as was the case in two of the three men’s division races at this year’s championships.

Kramer’s first-place time of 58 minutes, 17.2 seconds just edged out overall runner-up Erica Laven, a Swede skiing for the University of Utah, who clocked in at 58:19.6 a day after being the top overall finisher in the women’s classic sprint race finals Saturday.

“In these long mass-start races, you kind of have to roll with what’s happening in front of you and sometimes you get caught behind people, sometimes there’s a mishap or a collision and that’s just how the race ends up, so I try not to pressure myself too much, but I know I can stick with anyone now in these races,” Kramer said.

The next closest American was Lauren Jortberg with a time of 59:51.3 followed by Kate Oldham 59:51.6, both of whom hail from Colorado. Oldham, who skis for Montana State, had just edged out Kramer for the top spot on the podium in Thursday’s freestyle race, and Kramer said that returning the favor on a course she considers home — having grown up in Fairbanks and competing on the trails at Kincaid Park for most of her life — gave it even more significance.

“I feel so grateful and really feel at home here,” she said. “I’ve been in Anchorage for so many years now and all my family could be here. Once I knew I had a shot to be the national champion, I didn’t want to settle for second and I just used the rest of my energy and let it happen.”

[Photos: 2025 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Anchorage]

The men’s race wasn’t nearly as tight when it came to deciding the top spot overall as Norwegian skier Andreas Kirkeng, who skis for the University of Denver, pulled away on the final lap to secure his second first-place finish in as many days with a top mark of 50:47.5.

“I felt really strong, so I was able to get a small gap on Elliott’s hill on the last lap and from there it was just staying away and trying my best to keep the distance to the finish,” he said. “I had some good races in Norway before I got here, and now having three really good races here as well is good to start the season off building confidence for the rest of the races.”

After struggling with breathing issues at the start of the season that made him leave the World Cup circuit to race domestically, Dartmouth College’s John Steel Hagenbuch claimed his second national title at this year’s event by finishing with the top time among all Americans and second-fastest overall with a mark of 50:58.0.

“I’d say that was the best I’ve felt all season and I was glad to make it happen,” he said. “It was a really fun race and a little hectic to start, but (there were) a lot of strong skiers out there and I was glad to put down such a good effort.”

Hagenbuch prefers interval starts to mass starts because he usually performs better in them, but said mass starts are the more fun of the two.

“Andreas is so strong and consistently strong at nationals, which is really cool to see, and he’s one of my competitors in NCAA,” he said. “He’s a really great guy and an amazing skier, and I enjoy racing against him.”

Hagenbuch was “incredibly” impressed with the performance of Anchorage’s Luke Jager over the entirety of the event, including on Sunday as the two jockeyed back and forth for the top spot on the national podium.

“He was really strong again today and I was just doing everything I could to hang on his tails,” he said. “Obviously I just wanted to beat him to the line, but he was skiing really strongly and I think with the skis that I had on my feet, I needed to play my cards right.”

The timing of Hagenbuch’s attack and where he’d unleash his final push gave him the edge in the end.

“Florian (Knopf) and Johnny caught up with me, and I tried to tuck in and try to save my energy and get ready for a big sprint in the end,” Jager said. “I think I should’ve been a little more patient maybe. I attacked too early and really put myself in the wind.”

With his mark of 50:59.2 on Sunday, the APU ski team member and 2022 Olympian led all Alaskans with the most podium finishes over the course of the event, including winning the classic sprint national title Saturday.

“It’s been fun to feel like I potentially have a day I’m happy with in all the different events, and that’s really different for me to be more balanced and better rounded as a skier,” Jager said. “It was just great to see so many familiar faces and familiar courses.”

2025 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championship

Women’s 20K Classic Mass Start Overall

1. Kendall Kramer, University of Fairbanks, 58:17.2; 2. Erica Laven, University of Utah, 58:19.6; 3. Lauren Jortberg, CNEPH, 59:51.3; 4. Kate Oldham, Montana State, 59:51.6; 5. Erin Bianco, BSF, 59:51.8; 6. Samantha Smith, SVSEF, 59:59.2; 7. Renae Anderson, APU ,59:59.4; 8. Eve-Ondine Duchaufour, University of Denver, 1:00:01.2; 9. Selma Nevin, University of Utah, 1:00:06.5; 10. Shea Brams, Middlebury, 1:00:08.0

Men’s 20K Classic Mass Start Overall

1. Andreas Kirkeng, University of Denver, 50:47.5; 2. John Steel Hagenbuch, Dartmouth College, 50:58.0; 3. Luke Jager, APU, 50:59.2; 4. Florian Knopf, University of Denver, 51:03.3; 5. Will Koch, University of Colorado, 51:11.2; 6. Michael Earnhart, APU, 51:11.5; 7. Garrett Butts, APU, 51:13.2; 8. Hunter Wonders, APU, 51:17.6; 9. Scott Patterson, APU, 51:25.4; 10. Hugo Hinckfuss, University of Colorado, 51:40.0