Friday, March 13, 2026, Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY.
The second-to-last race of the championships. And a historic one for the CMU Cross Country Ski Team.
On the demanding 3 × 5 km course with 1,700 feet of climbing, the women’s 15 km freestyle mass start turned into a race of patience, tactics, and timing. And Greta Bochenek -- a freshman -- executed it perfectly.
Racing head-to-head with Amaeli Kam-Magruder and a deep, experienced field, Greta stayed composed through the early laps, never forcing the pace, always in control. Then, on the final lap, she made her move. On the last major climb she created distance from Amaeli on up and over, followed by the descent into the stadium, Greta broke the race open.
She came into the finish alone with every lane behind her empty, crossing the line in 44:01.7 to claim the national title.
🥇 Greta Bochenek - Colorado Mesa University (44:01.7)
🥈 Amaeli Kam-Magruder - St. Olaf (+18.3)
🥉 Anna Peikert - St. Olaf (+39.6)
Behind the win, the rest of the CMU women showed up on the national stage. Ruthie Richardson delivered a strong and steady race to finish 18th, competing deep into a stacked field. Jane Malouf (26th) and Mya Taylor (32nd) fought through a demanding course and long race, showing grit and determination all the way to the line.
For a freshman to win a national title in a race like this, against one of the deepest collegiate fields in the country, is something special.
A huge day for Greta, and a defining moment for the CMU Cross Country Ski Team.