Diggins Wins in Falun; Four Top-15 Results
The Sitfel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team closed out the season in style in Falun, Sweden, with Jessie Diggins winning the 20k skate to secure the overall and distance Crystal Globe. Rosie Brennan, Novie McCabe, Gus Schumacher and Scott Patterson all scored top-15 results.
Brennan secured 10th place on the sunny course—another top result for the veteran on the team. Brennan finished seventh overall in the season, as well as seventh in distance and 10th in sprint. She had also found the podium last weekend, a triumph after a difficult season of ups and downs.
Three-time NCAA champion and 2022 Olympian McCabe snagged her second best result in her career with an 11th. McCabe’s previous best result came at the Tour de Ski hill climb two seasons prior, when she was seventh.
Sophia Laukli and Sydney Palmer-Leger also had top finishes. Laukli was 17th, finishing out the best season in her career that included a World Cup win in Val di Fiemme, Italy and five top 10 finishes. Palmer-Leger, who recently won her third career individual NCAA title, was 23rd—her best career World Cup finish.
Rounding out the women, Haley Brewster was 32nd—an impressive result for the World Cup rookie who made her first start in Minneapolis a few weeks prior. Julia Kern did not finish.
On the men’s side, Schumacher skated to 12th place, capping off his best season to date. Distance skier maestro Patterson was 15th. Zanden McMullen was 27th. Outside of the top 30, Kevin Bolger finished 44th, Zak Ketterson 45th, Peter Wolter 60th and Michael Earnhart 79th.
The cross country World Cup season is officially wrapped, with the teams heading back to the states for national championships and some much-deserved rest.
