Two Huskies Finish on the Podium at Regional Day One

ISHPEMING, Mich. — Michigan Tech had two racers earn spots on the podium during the opening day of the NCAA Central Region Ski Championships. Kyle Hanson and Andrea Lee finished second and third in their respective freestyle races.

Tech's men took second of six teams with a strong showing by several of the athletes. Hanson's second-place result came with a 25:41 time on the 10-kilometer course. He edged out the third-place finisher from St. Scholastica by two-tenths of a second. Gaspard Cuenot was sixth in a time of 26:01. Didrik Fjeld Elset was also in the top 10 with a ninth-place showing in 26:15.

Lee's third-place finish on the 5K course came in a time of 14:10 and less than a second ahead of fourth place. Sonja Hedblom was 11th in a time of 14:37. Lisa Konig had a good race going before a crash set her back. She recovered enough to take 15th in 15:01.

"Any time your have two of your athletes on the podium, you've got to call it a good day," said Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller. "The conditions were quite warm, making it wet and slow and challenging to find the right wax.

"Credit goes to our wax technicians, especially Mike Young who's pinch hitting for us, for giving our athletes the right skis to compete today."

Michigan Tech will ski in classic races tomorrow to wrap up the regional.