Thunder Bay's Michael Somppi wins 50-km race at Haywood 2015 Ski Nationals

Thunder Bay cross country skier Michael Somppi won the 50-km event at the Haywood 2015 Ski Nationals at the Lappe Nordic Centre on Saturday, beating Olympian and World Cup athlete Ivan Babikov by almost 30 seconds.

The win at the 50-km race, traditionally the last and most anticipated of the year, secured Somppi's position as the Open Mens' aggregate champion. 

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In the Junior Womens' 30-km event, NDC Thunder Bay's Jenn Jackson also won with a commanding lead and proved she is fully recovered from a fractured leg earlier in the season. Maya MacIasaac-Jonesfinished second — securing her place as the aggregate champion. ​

​Other Thunder Bay skiers also placed well in the 50-km race, with NDC Thunder Bay's Scott Hill taking the fifth spot and Evan Palmer-Charrette finishing in eighth in his first 50-km race. Teammate Bob Thompson finished tenth.

Over in Junior Men's, NDC Thunder Bay’s Julian Smith finished sixth ahead of fellow NDC Thunder Bay skier Sam Greer in seventh and David Askwith in ninth.

In the Senior Womens' 30-km race, Quebec skiier Cenrine Browne came in first place. Former NDC Thunder Bay skiier Andrea Lea finished in ninth.

Big Thunder's Fergus Foster finished fifth in the Junior Boys' 15-km race.