HOUGHTON – The Northern Michigan University nordic ski team captured the top spots in both the men’s and women’s classic distance races at the final day of competition at the Junior National Qualifier at Michigan Tech University in Houghton on Sunday.

Wildcats sophomore Kristen Bourne won the women’s race in 34 minutes, 11.1 seconds, outsprinting the second-place finisher by a tenth of a second.

Senior Jordyn Ross was next in for NMU, completing the course in 34:19.4 to place fourth. Junior Felicia Gesior was seventh in 34:42.0.

The Wildcats captured the top four spots in the men’s races, led by sophomore Fredrik Schwencke in 59:25.1. Sophomore Adam Martin was second just three-tenths of a second behind, followed by senior Kyle Bratrud who crossed the line less than a second after that in 59:26.2.

Senior Erik Soderman rounded out the lead pack for the Wildcats crossing the finish line in fourth in 59:57.4.

On Saturday, the NMU teams advanced three skiers in both men’s and women’s final classic sprint races at the opening day of the JNQ.

Gesior was third in the final race in 4:30.92, followed by freshman Vivian Hett in 4:46.0. Ross was sixth in 4:57.46.

Schwencke finished second in the men’s event in 3:46.95 Soderman was third with 3:48.22 and Bratrud fourth in 3:50.45.

NMU returns to action at the U.S. Nationals January 4-5.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.