NMU’s Dybwad rules 20k at NCAA Regional

ISHPEMING, Mich. – The NMU women’s nordic ski completed its last CCSA race of the season with senior Victoria Dybwad dominating the course for gold.

Skiers had markers every 5k, and Dybwad never once trailed in a race she won by 30 seconds. Dybwad posted lap times of 14:27.7, 14:12.1, 14:43.7, and 15:03.7 en route to her final time of 58:27.4. Dybwad and Greta Leitheiser of the College of St. Scholastica were only a second apart after the 15k marker before Dybwad pulled away, gaining a 30 second cushion on the final 5k to win the race.

Leitheiser claimed silver at 58:58.9, and Greta Hansen of Michigan Tech finished third at 59:30.1.

The next Wildcats were Jordan Parent and Merle Richter in 7th and 8th, posting times of 1:01:07.9 and 1:01:35.5, respectively.

Pearl Harvey finished 16th with a time if 1:06:17.7, and both Henriette Nilssen and Ella Niznik DNS.

NMU now looks ahead to March 6 and 8, where the team travels to Hanover, New Hampshire for the NCAA Skiing Championships, featuring the same two events held this weekend.

Saturday’s 7.5k Recap

The Wildcats claimed gold thanks to a comeback effort from Merle Richter, crossing the line with a time of 24:42.7, two seconds ahead of second place. Richter opened with a lap times of 7:53.0 and 8:00.0 in her first two 2.5ks, sitting fifth with only one lap to go. Richter then turned in a lap of 8:49.6, posting the fastest final lap time to claim gold and knock Marie Wangen of Michigan Tech to second place.

Rounding out the podium was Victoria Dybwad in third, claiming a bronze medal with a time of 24:45.0. Dybwad posted lap times of 7:50.1, 7:56.9, and 8:57.8.

Jordan Parent finished in fifth with a time of 24:51.3, posting lap times of 7:52.7, 7:55.0, and 9:03.4.

Pearl Harvey finished 11th at 25:44.8, Ella Niznik 17th at 26:56.3, and Henriette Nilssen DNS.