Thomas Oyberg led the final race of the cross-country competition Sunday afternoon, gliding across the finish line 20 minutes ahead of Kjetil Hagtvedt Dammen of UAA (who won the overall Besh Cup). This was the only race from the Besh Cup Oyberg participated in. Oyberg arrived in Alaska last August and is pursuing a business degree through the UAF. Born in Skjak, Norway, he has participated in hundreds of races, and stands a fertile chance of making the top cut of the NCAA.

When I first approached Oyberg, I wasn't aware of the huge wave he had created in Cross Country Skiing, nor did I understand anything about the network of competitions. I could only deduct from the swarm of acronyms and hand gestures of local cross-country enthusiasts that points earned in a single competition apply to standings in other, broader competitions. As of January, Oyberg ranked seventh in the NENSA standings and last week he was posted eighth in SuperTour, which is excellent placement considering his knee injury earlier in the season.

UAF Head Coach Scott Jerome told Cross Country News, "Thomas Oyberg ran well in his first collegiate cross country meet despite a small leg injury. He is very competitive and knows how to deal with pain during the race."

Oyberg ranks first on the seed point system, which averages the four best FIS point results from all Besh Cup races in the last 12 months.

Second place in the Men's #6 was taken by Kjetil Dammen (UAA), followed by Erik Wickerstorm (UAF) and Bart Dengel (UAF). Dengel placed 4th overall.

UAF took Besh's #6 Women's competitions as well, thanks to Johanna Turunen, who finished 42 seconds in front of UAA's Nicole Deyong (who took first in the overall competition). Like Oyberg, #6 was the only Besh Cup that Turunen competed in, putting her in ninth place in the overall cup. Turunen also placed first on the seed point system.

Some upcoming cross-country events:

ASAA State Championships, Feb. 24-26 at Kincaid Park.

Fairbanks Biathlon series #3, Feb. 26 at Birch Hill.

Tour of Anchorage, March 6 at Anchorage.

Photo by John Wagner/Sun Star

UAF's Thomas Oyberg leads the men's 10k cross country ski race at Birch Hill. Oyberg won Sunday's race.

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