Needham skiing for Team USA at U23 World Ski Championships
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech junior Anabel Needham is competing for Team USA this week at the U23 World Ski Championships in Lygna, Norway. Needham will race in the 10K classic on Thursday, the skate sprint on Saturday, and possibly the U23 mixed relay on Sunday.
Needham qualified first in the classic sprint and third in the 10K classic interval start at the 2022 U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships in Soldier Hollow on January 2-7.
"This is going to be an incredible experience for Anabel," Tech Nordic ski coach Tom Monahan Smith said. "This is her first international championship, but she couldn't be more ready to compete with the outstanding season she has had to prepare her for these Championships."
While skiing with the Huskies this season, Needham won the skate and finished second in the classic on back-to-back weekends at the Mt. Itasca CXC Cup and the MTU Invite. She had three podium finishes at the Gitchi Gami Games in the skate, classic, and skate sprint. Needham added a podium finish in the skate at the CCSA Championships.
"Anabel has already achieved so much just making this team, and we know she is going to ski so fast as she has little pressure and the cool approach of a true professional," added Monahan Smith. "She enjoys every moment of her race opportunities, and that is her secret weapon. It is heartwarming to hear all of the support Anabel has from our community as a local student-athlete born and raised right here in Houghton. She has so much pride for this community, and we know she will be feeling the support from our entire community in her races this week as we all celebrate and cheer her on!"
After her time in Norway, Needham will join the Huskies in Utah for the NCAA Championships on March 9 and 11. It will be her second year in a row at NCAAs.