Flanders, Hjelstuen Win Freestyle Races

Twin Cities Championships Freestyle Results

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Michigan Tech had the top collegiate finisher in both the women's and men's freestyle races at the Twin Cities Championships today. Alice Flanders won the women's five-kilometer race while Haakon Hjelstuen claimed the men's 10K title.

Flanders skated to an impressive 27-second margin over the second-place finisher from Northern Michigan. The Huskies senior completed the 5K in 14:50. Lisa Konig was Tech's next-best finisher at 11th place with a time of 16:01. Ulrika Axelsson was two spots back at 16:07.

Hjelstuen earned his second top-five finish of the weekend by completing the 10K in 21:12. He defeated the second-place finisher from NMU by five seconds. Kyle Hanson was the next Husky across the line, taking ninth among collegiate racers in 22:38. Thomas Kendrick and David Joda were 12th and 13th in times of 23:03 and 23:06, respectively.

"I'm proud of how the women bounced back from a tough day yesterday," said Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller. "It was great to see both Alice and Haakon get wins. The guys raced well again. It was overall a pretty good weekend for us."

Michigan Tech will have next weekend off before taking part in the CCSA Sprint and Relay Championships in Duluth on Feb. 7-8.