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2003 NCAA Ski Championships Regional Previews: Central

By David Faiella * Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan won the Central regional for the fifth consecutive year February 22 in Biwabik, Minnesota, at Giants Ridge. Because of the forecast for cold weather that could have reached to minus 30 Sunday, the event was shortened to one day.

"It was the same for everybody," Northern Michigan coach Sten Fjeldheim said. "It was a lot harder for the all athletes to compete in both events in one day."

The women's 5-kilometer freestyle race was won by Sigrid Aas of Alaska Fairbanks with a time of 15:00.2. The next two spots in the order went to Northern Michigan's Rachel Daw (15:17.2) and Hilary Patzer (15:20.8). Johanna Turunen of Alaska Fairbanks placed fourth in the event with a time of 15:27.6. The fifth through the seventh places went to the Wildcats. Maria Stuber was fifth (15:31.1), Tami Kochen was sixth (15:32.7) and Katherine Huemmer placed seventh with a time of 15:49.4.

In the men's 10-kilometer freestyle, the Nanooks took four of the top seven places. Michal Malak led the charge by winning the event in a time of 25:02.1. Chris Cook of Northern Michigan was second as he covered the course in 25:15.0. The Nanooks took the next two places as Jonas Tetlie was third (25:39.8) and Juraj Brugos was fourth (26:09.9).

David Duede and Hjalmar Westie from Northern Michigan were fifth and sixth, respectively, with times of 26:11.6 and 26:13.2. Erik Wickstrom of Alaska Fairbanks rounded out the top seven (26:14.8). Aas won her second event as she captured the women's 10-k classical in a winning time of 29:51.7. Northern Michigan's Rachel Daw (30:05.8) and Hilary Patzer (30:20.6) finished next.

"Rachel Daw and Hilary Patzer skied the second half of the race really outstanding," Fjeldheim said.

Turunen broke the Northern Michigan hold on the event with a fourth-place finish (30:22.0). The Wildcats had the fifth through the seventh places.

"A big surprise was Stephanie Howe," Fjeldheim added. "As a freshman, she showed she could ski well. It was a big confidence builder for all our freshmen."

Chris Cook of Northern Michigan was the first non-Alaska Fairbanks skier to win an event as he took the men's 10-k classical going away with a time of 26:16.5.

Second went to fellow Northern Michigan skier Jon Filardo with a time of 26:53.6. Filardo was 13th in the 10-k freestyle (27:12.4).

Bryan Cook was the third Wildcat to score points in the event as he was fourth (26:55.4). Alaska Fairbanks took the next three places. The Nanooks were led by Tetlie in fifth place (27:01.8), Malak in sixth (27:03.0) and Brugos in seventh (27:04.8).

Event schedule