Elset Reaches Podium at U.S. Nationals

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Didrik Fjeld Elset placed third in today's classic sprint to reach the podium as Michigan Tech finished up the U.S. National Cross Country Championships today at the Nordic Training Center.

Elset was first after qualifying with the fastest time (3:37.03) this morning, then advanced through the quarterfinal and semifinal before taking third in the final in a photo finish. Using freestyle skis all day and propelling himself around the course by double-poling, Elset skied a 3:42.19 in the quarterfinal, 3:35.63 in the semifinal and 3:39.22 in the final. He beat the fourth-place finisher in the final by less than a hundredth of a second.

In addition to Elset, Gaspard Cuenot had a great day. He qualified with the third-best time of 3:40.88 and advanced past the quarterfinal (3:40.24) before finishing fifth in the semifinal (3:58.08).

Former Tech skier Haakon Hjelstuen advanced to the final. Tom Bye, who's redshirting and skied unattached, also qualified for the heats.

On the women's side, Andrea Lee qualified 28th of 69 skiers who started. She posted a time of 4:43.95 and advanced to the quarterfinal, where she finished fifth in her heat at 4:39.09.

"It was a high-water day for our program," said Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller. "To qualify first and third and have Didrik finish on the podium was outstanding.

"Our wax crew did a really good job today to put us in position to be successful. It was fun to see our gold suits keep moving through the heats. It was a real positive day to end the championship and move forward into the rest of the year."

Michigan Tech will have next weekend off before traveling to Telemark Super Tour Jan. 23-24.