SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah -- David Chamberlain '98 led a trio of Bates College alumni who finished in the top 26 of the U.S. Nationals men's 30-kilometer pursuit on Tuesday.

Chamberlain (Bethel, Maine) finished fourth overall in the event in 1:18:11.8, while Bates classmate Justin Freeman was 15th in 1:20:57.4 and Justin Easter '03 was 26th in 1:22:40.1.

Freeman's younger brother Kris won the pursuit with a time of 1:15:54.4.

The U.S. Nationals represented the final major cross country skiing event leading up to the Jan. 17 selection of the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Up to eight male skiers will go to Torino, but there is no required number in the contingent, and some members will most likely be sprinters, unlike the Bates trio.