Lakehead’s Nordic teams are poised for national gold again.
The Thunderwolves women swept the podium Tuesday in Corner Brook, N.L. in the 10-kilometre skate race at the Canadian College and University National Championships, rookie Jennifer Jackson capturing top spot, followed by Allanah MacLean and Erin Tribe.
LU skiers hold down thee of the top four spots in the overall standings, led by Jackson, who finished fourth in Sunday’s classic race.
Carelton’s Kendra Murray is second, followed by Tribe and MacLean.
Teams count their top three skiers toward the overall title, leaving LU in great position heading into Thursday’s sprint finale.
The Wolves top three total 435 points. Carleton’s team sits at 243, with Laval in third at 207. Skiers get 100 points for crossing the finish line first, 80 for second and 60 for third. Only the top two races for each skier are scored.
The Lakehead men are in equally good position after two races.
Scott Hill captured Tuesday’s skate race, with teammates Greg Kilroy and Harry Seaton finishing third and fourth.
Hill and Laval’s Frederic Tochette are tied atop the individual standings, with Kilroy and Seaton sitting in third and fourth respectively.
It capped a pretty good day for Hill, who also captured the national junior category at the simultaneously held Haywood Cross Country Ski Nationals'15-kilometre event.
“Today was one of my best races of the season,” HIll said in a release issued by Big Thunder Nordic. “It is nice to have my confidence back after a disappointing middle of the season. The key to doing well in today’s race was to pace it well because of the hard course and high winds – and I was able to do this well today which attributed to my gold-medal race."
Lappe Nordic's Evan Palmer-Charrette, a fellow National Development Centre-Thunder Bay skier, took second in the junior race, while teammate Ben Wilkinson Zan took fifth and Big Thunder's Victor Hopper and Angus Foster finished eighth and 12th. Jackson took fourth in the junior women's event.
There was more good news for Thunder Bay skiers.
Senior team member Michael Somppi earned bronze in the men's 15-kilometre race, while NDC's Andy Shields took fourth.
Full results can be seen here.
