Kraftson, Fricker, Clarke dominate 20 k mass start
DULUTH, Minn. — The NMU men’s nordic ski team swept the podium in the 20k mass start on the final day of the NCAA Regional Championships.
Redshirt junior Adrik Kraftson (Stillwater, Minn.) claimed gold, senior Luke Fricker (Canmore, Alb.) earned silver, and senior Jonathan Clarke (Bloomington, Minn.) rounded out the podium in bronze. The trio were around the top-four for the entire race before crossing the line.
Kraftson and Fricker had a photo finish at the line, as Kraftson crossed the line line at 46:43.2 and Fricker at 46:35.5, just +0.3 behind his teammate. Kraftson was as low as third at the 6.6k and 10k markers before moving to first at the 13.3k mark. Fricker opened in sixth at the 3.3k before making an immediate move to second at the 6.6k marker, a position he would maintain for the rest of the race.
Clark was in fourth from the 6.6k to 16.6k mark before making his move to bronze thanks to another dramatic finish at the line. Clark, with a time of 47:07.7, edged out Michigan Tech’s Wes Campbell for bronze, who crossed the line at 47:07.8, just +0.1 behind Fricker. Campbell was in the lead before slipping to third at the halfway mark, and ultimately finishing fourth.
Sophomore Caden Albrecht (Stillwater, Minn.) finished eighth at 48:03.9, senior Hendrik Peterson (Parnu, Estonia) 17th at 48:50.1, and freshman Jack Dahlby (Chippewa Falls, Wisc.) rounded out the ‘Cats in the field at 28th with his time of 54:45.9.
