McCabe Claims Individual 5K Freestyle Title as Utah Moves Into Second Place at NCAA Championships

Thursday, March 9

Lake Placid, N.Y.

8 a.m.

University of Utah

5/10K Freestyle

Novie McCabe - 5K FS at 2023 NCAA Championships

Photo by: NCAA Photos via Getty Images

McCabe Claims Individual 5K Freestyle Title as Utah Moves Into Second Place at NCAA Championships

3/9/2023 1:45 PM | Skiing

Results Photo Gallery

Four more All-America awards as Utes reach halfway point of championship meet

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Novie McCabe of the Utah Ski Team won the women's individual NCAA championship by almost 13 full seconds, as the Utes tallied four All-America performances in the men's and women's 5/10K freestyle interval start races at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, moving into second place in the team standings at the halfway point of the 2023 NCAA Championships.

Utah (263 points) trails only Colorado for the lead (279.5 points). The Utes now head back to Whiteface Mountain for slalom on Friday with a 7 a.m. MT first run. The four-day championship meet will then conclude on Saturday at Mt. Van Hoevenberg with men's and women's 20K classic races.

McCabe's crown was the second of her career after winning the women's 5K classic championship in 2022 at Soldier Hollow. It was also the second individual championship for Utah at this year's meet, following in the footsteps of women's giant slalom winner Madison Hoffman on Wednesday.

All-time in all disciplines, Utah now has won 82 individual NCAA Championships. McCabe is the seventh women's 5K freestyle champion in program history and first since Julia Richter in 2019. It is the third straight year that a Ute has won the women's freestyle at NCAAs, coming after the 15K titles for Sophia Laukli in 2022 and Sydney Palmer-Leger in 2021.

"The boys had a strong day today," said head Nordic coach Miles Havlick. "Walker [Hall] and Luke [Jager] came out charging. Sam [Hendry] had a little bit of a tough day, but…it was everything we could ask for from them. The women are obviously hard to beat. Sydney came back from the World Championships just this past weekend, so she's a little bit tired. But Novie and Sophia were right there fighting for the top spots. It was a great day."

Along with First Team All-America honors for McCabe (her third such honor as a Ute), Sophia Laukli's fourth-place finish in the 5K freestyle earned her First Team, also her third All-America citation since coming to Utah last season from Middlebury College.

On the men's side, Luke Jager placed sixth and Walker Hall was two spots back in eighth, each taking home Second Team. It is Jager's second career All-America award; he was named First Team in 2021 after a runner-up finish for that year's 10K classic. The Second Team nod marked a bright start to Hall's NCAA Championships career, with today's race his first start on this stage.

McCabe led the women's race wire to wire, posting a final time of 12:46.3 and earning a 12.9-second pad over second-place finisher Jasmine Lyons of New Hampshire. Laukli climbed as high as third at the 2.5K and 3.75K splits, before coming to her final result of fourth (13:02.6). Sydney Palmer-Leger placed 14^th to close out the Utah women's lineup, clocking 13:40.3.

"Today was good," McCabe said post-race. "It was a great race for me, I just tried to go out there and do the best I could for the team. I think we all had that mindset. We were all pretty nervous going into it, but I'm proud of the team as a whole for pulling through. I think we all went out there, gave it our best and had the best days we could. I'm happy with it. It was a great day."

In addition to Jager (23:39.1) and Hall's (23:51.3) podium finishes, Samuel Hendry also secured key points for the Utes with his 21^st-place finish (24:28.2).

Jager was in the top-five for much of the race, including as high as fourth at the 6.25K mark. He was back to fifth as the home stretch began at 7.5K, before coming into the finish area with his sixth-place time. Hall climbed up the standings as the race progressed, going from 11^th at the 6.25K point on the course to ultimately earn All-America Second Team with his eighth-place effort.

"I was happy to have one of my better skate races that I've had this season. I've kind of struggled in this event in particular this season. To get some points for the team on the board was good. It was a pretty good day for our whole team. Hopefully we have better things coming the next couple days. I think we're all moving into events that we all like a little better. No pressure, just having fun."

Friday's slalom is expected to feature Madison Hoffman, Michelle Kervén and Katie Parker for Utah in the women's event, along with Bjorn Brudevoll, Wilhelm Normannseth and Gustav Vøllo for the men.

Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam.