Midway, UT – Torin Koos, of Wenatchee, Wash., and the Northern Bridger Ski Foundation, and Vermonter Jennie Bender of CXC Elite took classic sprint titles on opening day of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships on the Olympic trails at Soldier Hollow in Midway.

For Bender, it was her first U.S. title, winning an intense sprint to the finish over Sadie Bjornsen of APU Nordic and the U.S. Ski Team. For Koos, it was a much anticipated seventh U.S. title. A year ago at U.S. Championships Koos was first across the line in the classic sprint, but was later disqualified.

Bender’s win brought her to tears in the finish, taking her first title following a summer and fall of illness. A Univ. of Vermont grad, Bender is a three-time Junior Worlds Team member and 2011 American Birkebeiner classic champion.

“I had no idea how today would go. I came into these last races thinking that I had to stay neutral and not beat myself up too much,” Bender said. “I had a rough fall and summer being sick, so this is pretty mind blowing.”

Koos won over Michael Sinnott of the Sun Valley Ski Educational Foundation in Idaho, who took silver, and Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess of Bend, Ore./PNSA Bend Endurance Academy who’s going home with the bronze.

“I’ve only done two sprints this season and my health was not good,” Koos said. “Today is just a classic amazing day at Soldier Hollow. I have been skiing here since 1999. I have a lot of fond memories here – I’ve had my first World Cup here, my first Olympics here, my first U.S. Championship here, so I always looks forward to coming back. I kind of feel like I’m coming full circle. The organizers here do an awesome job. The course is always in very fair shape.”

Action continues Friday at Soldier Hollow with individual start freestyle distance racing.