Nordic Huskies Open 2024 at U.S Nationals
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech Nordic Ski teams open the 2024 slate of the season out west for the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships, taking place Jan. 2-7 in Midway, Utah.
The Huskies will compete in four races, starting with the Classic Interval Start 10km on Tuesday with the Skate Sprint on Thursday, Skate Mass Start (20km Sr/10km Jr) on Friday before concluding the event with the Classic Sprint on Sunday.
Through two weekends, Michigan Tech has seen success from freshman Axel Aflodal, who opened the season with a win in the Freestyle Sprint at the Duluth CXC Cup.
At the Salomon CXC Cup in Cable, Wisconsin, Skyler Patten won the Skate Interval Start to earn his first podium finish of the season. The veteran's on the women's side also saw podium finishes, seeing Anabel Needham and Olivia Laven finishing second and third, respectively.
Aflodal also made the podium in the Classic Sprint with a third-place finish. Marie Sølverud Wangen also earned bronze in the Classic Sprint for the Huskies.
At the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships a season ago, the Huskies played host, bringing in over 470 athletes, 130 coaches and suppliers to go with 100 volunteers.
The races saw Skylar Patten make the podium in the Freestyle 10km Interval Start with a bronze finish to open the event.