Northern Michigan University’s Henriette Nilssen works her way along a trail during a past Wildcats’ nordic ski meet. (Photo courtesy NMU)

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Henriette Nilssen was the individual star for the women’s nordic ski team at Northern Michigan University when the Wildcats headed out east just after the start of the new year.

She had NMU’s top finish over the final three days at the U.S. National Championships held in Lake Placid, New York, from Jan. 4-9. This meet included skiers from many levels, with collegians competing with professional skiers.

On Jan. 6, the Northern junior finished 54th overall and second among Central Collegiate Ski Association skiers in the freestyle sprint in 3 minutes, 26.67 seconds.

With the top 30 in a field of 283 advancing to the quarterfinals, Nilssen missed that cut by just three seconds.

Right after Nilssen for the Wildcats was Lauren McCollor in 60th and third in the CCSA in 3:27.69.

Teammate Emma Klevenberg was 111th in 3:33.96, NMU’s Greta Leitheiser right behind her in 113rd in 3:34.11, while teammate Jordan Parent finished 150th in 3:39.02.

In addition for the Wildcats, Riley Groosklaus was 219th in 3:49.29, Ella Niznik 232nd in 3:52.26 and Lena Kjelstrup 261st in 4:05.76. Marquette Senior High School graduate and NMU skier Monet Argeropoulos didn’t finish.

Two days later on Jan. 8 in the 20-kilometer mass start race, Nilssen was 33rd and second in the CCSA in 1:02:13.5, leaving her a shade under six minutes behind winner Novie McCabe, a three-time NCAA champion and 2022 Winter Olympian who is currently a member of the U.S. national team.

Nilssen started well, sitting 22nd after 2.5K and 26th at 3.75K before gliding back to her final position.

Michigan Tech’s Julia Junkkala led CCSA skiers in the event, finishing 31st overall less than three seconds ahead of Nilssen in 1:02:10.7.

Leitheiser was Northern’s next finisher in 1:04:01.4, 52nd overall and sixth in the CCSA, and was sitting 43rd at the 13.75K mark.

McCollor and Klevenberg finished in consecutive positions, 75th and 76th respectively, along with 10th and 11th in the CCSA. McCollor clocked 1:08:02.2 and Klevenberg 1:08:04.0.

Parent was 90th overall in 1:10:10.0, while Niznik, Kjelstrup and Meija Peterson didn’t finish.

The final day, Jan. 9, featured the classic sprint held in a format identical to the Jan. 6 freestyle sprint, with a number of rounds whittling the field down to a winner.

This time, the top 30 out of 189 competitors advanced out of qualifying with many top levels of skiers represented again.

Nilssen came closest to continuing, placing 56th overall and fourth in the CCSA in 3:50.33. Parent was 64th overall and fifth in the CCSA in 3:52.36, Leitheiser 76th and sixth in the CCSA in 3:55.54, and McCollor 78th and seventh in the CCSA in 3:55.81.

Also for Northern, Peterson finished in 3:58.50, Kjelstrup in 4:02.76, Klevenberg in 4:09.58, Argeropoulos in 4:15.07 and Grossklaus in 4:27.69 as Niznik didn’t finish.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.