Tech Nordic Skiing Set to Host U.S. Cross Country Ski Nationals
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech Nordic Ski teams return to their home turf, playing the host of the 2023 Toyota U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships presented by Hampton Inn & Suites of Houghton on the tech trails. The event will take place from Jan. 2-7.
Competition days will start at 9:30 a.m. with a live stream and results from Superior Timing.
"This is the sixth time that Michigan Tech has hosted the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships and this is the biggest in terms of official participants that we've ever had," head coach Tom Monahan Smith said.
The event will bring in over 470 athletes, 130 coaches and suppliers, to go with 100 volunteers.
Last Time Out
The Huskies continued to impress in their second competition of the season in front of a home crowd winning the combined team win at the Pre-Nationals CCSA Invite/CXC Cup on Dec. 17-18 at the Tech Trails.
"We saw some really amazing performances–some athletes had the best races of their career which was really cool to see after a few really hard weeks with the end of the semester and finals," assistant coach Kristen Monahan Smith added. "I think it's a huge confidence booster for our team and that going into nationals everyone should be extremely confident, especially on our home courses."
The Black & Gold saw three individual winners, with Olivia Laven winning the women's freestyle interval start, also making the podium was Anabel Needham taking bronze.
Henriette Semb placed fourth in the race, while Cat Stow, who earned the runner-up finish within the U20 finishers, finished 10th overall.
In the men's freestyle interval start, Skylar Patten took home gold while teammate Tryg Solberg earned third-place.
Following the podium finishers was an additional pack of Huskies as Michigan Tech took seven of the top-10 spots. Colin Freed and Adam Witkowski were just outside the podium, placing fourth and fifth-place, respectively. Henry Snider, Wes Campbell and Yanik Pauchard went seventh, eighth and tenth in the race.
Additionally, Campbell took silver in the U20 field for his efforts.
On the second day of competition came the third individual winner in Needham, winning the freestyle sprint. Two other Huskies cracked the top-five, with Semb and Stow taking fourth and fifth, respectively.
The men's freestyle sprint showcased Witkowski making it to the final while the Huskies accumulated the most competitors within the semi-finals.