2024 Collegiate Snowshoe National Championships Conclude in Wisconsin
Paul Smith’s College (NY) Olivia Bobbie and Eliot Soderholm claim Collegiate National Titles and lead their teams to the national team championships.
Eau Claire, WI (February 11) - The 2024 Snowshoe National Championships were held February 9-11 in Eau Claire, WI at the Lowes Creek County Park trails. Along with crowning Collegiate National Champions, U.S. Open Champions, Middle School and High School champions were crowned. There was only one issue - the mild winter weather melted the snow and turned the events into trail races.
Despite the lack of snow coverage, the 2024 Snowshoe Nationals were held as a late season cross country running race on a combination of undulating single track, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the runners focused.
What a day for racing as temperatures climbed to 33 degrees to welcome athletes from across the U.S. For the second consecutive year the Paul Smith's College (NY) Snowshoe Team had a very successful individual and team performance dominating the Collegiate National Championships. The Paul Smith’s team was the largest on hand with 16 team members competing. They returned to the North Country nearly perfect with two individual Collegiate National Champions, the men’s and women’s national team titles and a total of 8 Collegiate Snowshoe All Americans.
In the collegiate men’s championship, it was PSC’s Eliot Soderholm and 2023 champion, Wesley Burkit locked into a battle with University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s, Baden Schrab in the men’s race. By midway Soderholm (19:10.0) pulled away for a convincing 1:08 victory over Baden (20:18.3) with Burkit (20:32.1) only 14 seconds back for the bronze. PSC teammates Logan Krahn (22:17.2) and Carson Wohlers (22:38.5) rounded out the top 5 and secure the national team title for the Paul Smith’s College program.
The collegiate women’s race was much closer with PSC teammates Olivia Bobbie (North Bangor, NY) and Brooklynn Shumway (Bloomingdale, NY) trading leads early with University of Wisconsin-Madison student, Jessica Ludwig matching their moves. In the closest finish of the championships Bobbie got the lean over Ludwig by a narrow six-tenths of a second as they crossed the finish line in 27:03.4 and 27:04.0 respectively. Shumway was not far behind and secured the bronze medal running 27:23.6. Driving the point home for Paul Smith’s were teammates Joanna Kerchner (29:26.3) and Haven Brandt (31:05.5) who claimed 4th and 5th respectively and closed any doubt in who would claim the team title.
Coach Jim Tucker has been leading the Paul Smith’s College program since 1987, and this team performance was as impressive as any team he has coached. His team seemed especially comfortable with the terrain and rolling hills, matching their training in the Paul Smith's College VIC.
Complete race results can be found here: 2024 U.S. and Collegiate National Snowshoe Championships - Results
INFORMATION ON SNOWSHOE RUNNING
UNITED STATES SNOWSHOE ASSOCIATION
PAST RESULTS
2023 10K Champions – 5K U20 Champions
2020
2019
