MORA, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's and women's Nordic skiing teams both placed in the top two among MCSA programs in the 34K Dala as part of the 2026 Vasaloppet USA races on Saturday at Vasaloppet Nordic Center.

Sophomores Paavo Rova and Liesl Cope-Schaeffer were the top overall men's and women's finishers in the 34-kilometer race to lead the Oles to top-two team finishes in the MCSA scoring. The St. Olaf women were first of six teams with 216 points, while the men were second of seven with 203 points, just eight behind the University of Wisconsin.

Rova led three Ole men in the top four with a first-place time of 1:26:58.7 to finish 75 seconds clear of James Kyes of Wisconsin and teammate Jack Aldrich (1:28:14.1). Sophomore Lance Hastings was fourth overall (1:28:26.2), while three other Oles were among the top-seven MCSA skiers.

Cope-Schaeffer led a top-five sweep for the Oles among MCSA competitors in the women's competition, finishing one-tenth of a second ahead of junior Lily Ward in 1:34:49.4. Junior Amae Kam-Magruder (3rd, 1:35:21.2), first year Anna Peikert (4th, 1:37:03.3), and sophomore Lizzy Weider (5th, 1:37:37.8) rounded out the top-five sweep.

St. Olaf will divide its teams between the Wirth SuperTour and U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Regional Championships this Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14-15.