Huskies Wrap Up UP-Opener Sunday
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech men's and women's Nordic Ski teams closed the opening weekend of the 2016-17 season on Sunday at the UP-Opener held at the Tech Trails. The Huskies competed well on Saturday and turned in some strong performances on Sunday as well.
"It was a small field today but it had some very elite competitors," Michigan Tech Head Coach Joe Haggenmiller said. "I think we had a very good effort today although that might not have necessarily showed up on the results sheet. On the men's side, I thought Gaspard (Cuenot), Thomas (Bye), and Tomi (Mikkonen) had solid days. On the women's side, I thought Sonja (Hedblom) and Lisa (König) had good days as well on the course. I think we have some things to build from this weekend and look forward to having some bigger fields next week and competing again at Tech Trails."
Sonja Hedblom paced the Tech women's team on Sunday, finishing fifth overall with a time of 17:52.6 in the 5k classic race. Lisa König followed in seventh overall after hitting the line with a time of 18:04.8. Amanda Kautzer checked in at No. 9 in the individual standings with a time of 18:12.7, Carloyn Lucca was 10th with a time of 18:48.2, and Ruth Oppliger rounded out the Tech competitor's 12th overall with a time of 19:19.4. Vivian Hett of Northern Michigan University took home the individual title with a time of 16:44.6.
Gaspard Cuenot was the top finisher for the men's team on Sunday, recording a sixth place finish in the field of 30 racers. Cuenot crossed the line with a time of 30:01.8. Thomas Bye followed in seventh with a time of 30:20.3 and Tomi Mikkonen cracked the top ten in 10th place with a time of 30:39.5. Dan Wood (14th, 31:39.7), Seth Mares (22nd, 33:50.4), Mark Wenzel (26th, 34:55.0), and Seth Prigge (27th, 35:18.0) rounded out the field for Tech on Sunday. Adam Martin of Northern Michigan won the 10k classic race with a time of 28:32.5.
Michigan Tech will be back on the course at tech Trails Saturday and Sunday in the Central Super NCAA/JNQ Series.