By Gavin Kentch
This is a reader-funded website. Virtually all of my income (for perspective: I took home less than $5,000 from Nordic Insights last year after paying staff) comes from reader contributions, which I sincerely appreciate. If you would like to support the site, including helping us get to the Olympics in February, you may do so here. Thank you.
Wednesday brought the first day of distance racing at 2026 World Junior Championships in Lillehammer, a 20-kilometer mass start skate. For at least one of the athletes racing today, it was the first 20km of their life. You’ve got to start somewhere.
The women’s race was a relatively tactical affair, with 11th place (let’s call her “Ally Wheeler”) within twenty seconds of the win, and fourteen seconds of the podium, after 20 kilometers of racing. Wheeler was preceded, among American finishers today, by Neve Gerard, who finished ninth, less than a second ahead of her. The top-ten result presumptively qualifies Gerard for the U.S. Ski Team D-Team for 2026/2027.
I would be remiss to do anything other than print the following photo of the two Utah teammates here (Wheeler is on the left):
The pair was followed today by Britta Johnson, 19th, and Lena Poduska, 23rd. Yes, in a race with 73 starters, the lowest American finisher was 23rd. #skilikeanAmerican
Here are photos of all four women who raced today, courtesy of the inimitable Steve Fuller, better known as @flyingpoint on Instagram. You can find his website here for your photo viewing and purchasing needs. Click on any image to enlarge.
The American men were led today by Tabor Greenberg, who finished in tenth. He was followed by Grey Barbier in 31st, Jack Leveque in 36th, and Micah Bruner in 42nd. Leveque, 16, was one of five DOB 2009 athletes in the field. Hello to Jack’s mother, who I know is reading this, and who is nice.
Here are some shots of the men who raced today.
Finally, you may view replays of the entire day here: women’s race | men’s race.
Okay, and another photo or two of the techs because Steve does great work:
Racing continues at the venue tomorrow when U23 athletes take on the 20km skate. Result highlights and photos on this site. I’m on family vacation after the Games so that is realistically the likely extent of coverage here, fyi.
Thanks again to Steve Fuller for the amazing photos. This week is a pillar project of NNF, in case you are curious where your Drive for 25 donations go. Go team.
