Olli Third, Wildcats Second in Slalom at National Championships

BEND, OR. - The NMU women's alpine ski team had a dominant day on the slopes, earning both an individual and team podium in the slalom.

Reagan Olli added another NCAA Championship medal to her mantle, claiming bronze in the slalom with her time of 1:33.51. Olli had a dominant day, posting the second-fastest run times of both runs (46.50, 47.01), finishing just 0.06 seconds behind second place and 0.62 seconds off of first place, earning another first team All-America honor.

The Wildcats finished second as a team, posting a combined time of 4:49.02, behind Rocky Mountain College at 4:42.16 and ahead of Castleton with 4:52.65.

Ainsley Kirk earned a second team All-America honor with her top-ten finish, claiming ninth with her time of 1:36.17. Kirk posted the 10th quickest time in run one (48.31) and seventh fastest in run two (47.86). Rounding out the team scoring was Ella Wichert in 20th with her time of 1:39.34.

Maddy Stern finished 49th with her time of 1:47.40, and Tommie Springer DNF in run two after finishing 33rd after run one.

A full list of results can be found here, and official team scores can be found here.

Run One
Olli was the fourth skier to take to the slopes on the morning, and she made great time. Olli posted a run one time of 46.50, the fastest at her finish until four runs later. Olli would eventually finish second after the field ended, setting her up for a prime opportunity to podium.

Kirk was next in bib 44, and she posted a great run of her own with a time of 48.31, the eighth fastest time when she crossed the finish. Once the field was done, Kirk's time was slotted in the 10th position, and she could see the leaders just two seconds ahead.

Wichert made her way down the course in bib 67. Wichert finished her run with a 48.67, posting the 13th fastest time after she crossed the finish line. After all 144 racers, Wichert would finish 14th after run one.

The penultimate Wildcat racer was Springer in bib 92. Springer was flying down the course, posting a time of 51.19 to finish just outside of the flip in 31st at her time of finishing. After the field concluded, Springer would sit just two spots back in 33rd heading into the evening.

Stern rounded out the 'Cats on the day as the 127 bib racer of 144. Stern took a spill at the beginning of her run before recovering and getting back on track, finishing with a time of 56.17 despite the early fall. After the remaining 14 skiers finished, Stern would sit in 74th ahead of the evening run.

Run Two
The evening runs started, and the skies started from position 30 and worked their way up to the first finisher from the morning run. The 'Cats had three skiers in the top 15, a great position for team scoring heading into the evening.

Halfway through the top 30, Wichert was released into the elements, and she took to the course after posting the 14th fastest time in the morning. At the time of finishing, Wichert posted the 11th fastest run two result and slotted into 7th place with her time of 1:39.34 with 13 skiers to round out the top 30. After the remaining skiers finished, Wichert slotted into 20th overall with the 26th quickest run two time.

Four skiers later it was Kirk, and she took control of the lead after crossing the line with nine skiers to go, posting the second-fastest run two time when she finished to own a combined time of 1:36.17. After the field concluded, Kirk would finish in ninth place, and her second run of 47.86 would prove to be the seventh-quickest

Primed for a top finish, Olli was in second place heading into the evening and in position to take a podium spot. The number 4 bib cruised out of the gate, posting the second-fastest time of the run at 47.01 to earn a combined total of 1:33.51, good for second with one skier to go. Giraud, the final skier of the top 30, would finish .06 seconds ahead of Olli, bumping her to third place, earning Olli a bronze medal and first team All-America honors at the national championships.

Springer, starting as just the third skier after the top 30, took a spill at the top of the course and DNF.

Stern rounded out the Wildcat skiers, posting a combined time of 1:47.40 with a run two time of 51.23, the 31st fastest second run time when she crossed the finish line. Stern's second run time would prove 32nd fastest once the day was concluded, and she would finish in 49th.

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Players Mentioned

Ainsley Kirk: 5' 5"; Senior

Reagan Olli: Senior

Tommie Springer: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Maddy Stern: 5' 4"; Junior

Ella Wichert: 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Ainsley Kirk
: 5' 5"; Senior

Reagan Olli
: Senior

Tommie Springer
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Maddy Stern
: 5' 4"; Junior

Ella Wichert
: 5' 9"; Senior

Northern Michigan University

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Olli Third, Wildcats Second in Slalom at National Championships

Players Mentioned

Ainsley Kirk

Reagan Olli

Tommie Springer

Maddy Stern

Ella Wichert

Players Mentioned

Ainsley Kirk

Reagan Olli

Tommie Springer

Maddy Stern

Ella Wichert