By Elizabeth Karam, USSA

LAKE PLACID — Travis Ganong (Olympic Valley, CA) and Keely Kelleher (Big Sky, MT) were crowned 2010 Visa U.S. Super G Champions on Saturday at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid. Ganong and Kelleher both led the pack from starting bib one.

U.S. Championships bring together top athletes from national team and ski clubs from across the states to race for the honor of being the best racer in the U.S.

Ganong clinched his second U.S. Championship title for the 2010 season on Saturday, winning both the downhill, which was in February at Aspen, and the super G. Ganong led the field by nearly a second with 2010 Olympic Alpine Team member Will Brandenburg (Spokane, WA) in second, followed by Warner Nickerson (Gilford, NH) in third.

“It’s warm out here, so there’s definitely an advantage of running first. When it’s like that, the track is smooth,” explained Ganong. “I skied pretty well, I nailed all of my marks. It was fun.”

On the women’s side Kelleher laid down the fastest time running first to clinch the win, marking her first U.S. title. Kelleher was followed by teammate and 2010 Olympic Alpine Team member, Chelsea Marshall (Pittsfield, VT) in second. Laurenne Ross (Klamath Falls, OR) rounded out the podium in third.

The men and women will race slalom on Sunday.

2010 Visa U.S. Alpine Championships Lake Placid, March 20 Super G

Men

1. Travis Ganong, Olympic Valley, CA, 1:05.34

2. Will Brandenburg, Spokane, WA, 1:06.20

3. Warner Nickerson, Gilford, NH, 1:06.42

4. Tim Jitloff, Reno, NV, 1:06.44

5. Tommy Ford, Bend, OR, 1:06.73 1:06.74

Women

1. Keely Kelleher, Big Sky, MT, 1:06.31

2. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:06.67

3. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:06.70

4. Katie Hitchcock, Sacramento, CA, 1:06.85

5. Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 1:06.93