Campbell World Junior Championships Bound After Day Three at U.S. Nationals
MIDWAY, Utah – The Michigan Tech Nordic Ski team turned out a stellar day in the distance races on the third day of the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships. Sophomore Wes Campbell once again delivered with a fourth-place finish in the junior 10km freestyle, helping him qualify for the World Junior Championships held Feb. 5-11.
Quotable
"It was an awesome day for the team," head coach Tom Monahan Smith said. "The big highlight was the last race of the day with Wes Campbell getting fourth place in the junior men's skate race, securing his ticket to the World Junior Ski Championships after finishing seventh in both the classic distance race, the skate sprint and then fourth place finish today. The entire team is so happy for him to achieve this outstanding selection and to be representing Michigan Tech and Team USA at the World Junior Championships in Slovenia in February. We had a lot of personal-bests today which was a huge focus of ours for this Championship. The women's 20km skate was led off by Olivia Laven who was the top CCSA finisher as well–All three of our women we're the top three CCSA finishers with Anabel right behind Olivia and our newcomer from Norway Synne also within the top 30, which was an outstanding performance for all three of them. I also want to give a special shoutout to both Ingrid Halverson, who had her best skate race of her career and Alice McKnight as well, who also had an outstanding race.
"On the men's side, Henry Snider had an outstanding race as well in the men's 20km, he was the top CCSA finisher with a top-30 result which was one of his best national skate results in his career. Colin Freed coming back from an injury he suffered this fall is showing that he's in a really good place--he laid it out there today trying to stay with the lead pack and he faded a little bit through the race but still came away with an outstanding result at the National Championships here."
Campbell, once again putting on a show in his home state, comfortably took fourth place in the junior men's 10km in a time of 25:16.5.
"It has been a goal of mine to make world juniors since not making it last year," Campbell mentioned. "After some great races this week, I was able to achieve my goal and represent the USA in Slovenia."
In total, the Huskies had four in the top-30 in the 20km senior races with Henry Snider posting a 29th-place finish, beating out Dartmouth's Cameron Wolfe by the slimmest of margins.
Colin Freed was the second finisher for the Huskies in the 20km distance race, taking 32nd overall in 51:28.6.
Tryg Solberg (53:23.8) was among the top 50 with his 46th-place finish in a field of 82 skiers.
The women's 20km showcased three top-30 performances, with Olivia Laven and Anabel Needham finishing in 24th and 25th place, respectively. Laven broke 57 minutes (56:58), while Needham went 57:13.
The newest member of the team, Synne Herheim, displayed her long distance talents, taking 30th place in 58:09.7.
Ingrid Halverson (1:01:13) and Alice McKnight (1:01.26) cracked the top 50 in a field of 73, placing 47th and 49th, respectively.
Hailee Zimpel led the Huskies in the women's junior 10km race with her 21st-place finish. Greta Hansen was a second behind to take 22nd place in 30:14.2.
Up Next
The Nordic Huskies will conclude the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships on Sunday with the Classic Sprint.
