Thursday, March 12
Salt Lake City, UT
Montana State University
at
NCAA 7.5K Classic (I)
Montana State's Felicie Chappaz
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Montana State Nordic Skiers Post Strong Performances in 7.5K Classic at 2026 NCAA Ski Championships
3/12/2026 8:17:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing
Three Bobcats finish in top 15
(March 12, 2026) – Two Montana State women and one man finished in the top 15 of the 7.5K Classic races at the 2026 NCAA Ski Championships at Midway, Utah on Thursday.
Grad student Felicie Chappaz finished 11th in a time of 26:56.8, while senior Katey Houser's mark of 27:18.5 was good for 13th. It marked the ninth time in Houser's 10 races this season that she has finished 13th or higher. Sophomore Maeve MacLeod finished 31st (30:14.3).
Montana State Nordic head coach Adam St. Pierre said changing course conditions during the race hurt those beginning later in the morning of the individual start competition. "The course conditions changed a lot for the later starters," he said. "Katey started in the middle of the field and had a good race. Felicie and Maeve started toward the back of the field and had to ski through slush that the early starters did not have to deal with. I would estimate the course was at least a full minute slower for Felicie and Maeve than it was for the girls who started in the first 10 bibs."
St. Pierre said he was proud of Chappaz's performance. "Felicie finishing 11th was a good race, but knowing how much the snow deteriorated, she could have been top five with an earlier start spot. I'm really happy with how she skied. It is just unfortunate luck. Similarly, Maeve skied a very good classic race and ended up just outside of the top 30."
Earlier, Montana State's men competed on "nice, firm conditions" that led to "fast times and small gaps between places," St. Pierre said. Graduate student Simon Chappaz finished 14th (19:30.3), sophomore Grey Barbier finished 18th (19:48.0) and junior Gavin Galyardt was 30th (20:30.2). "All three men scored points for the team," St. Pierre said, "so I'm happy with that."
Team scores take into account men's and women's competitors in both the Alpine and Nordic competitions, and that remains the priority. "We ended the day ninth in men's team scoring and seventh in women's, but we scored enough points to hold on to fourth place. We lost a little ground to Denver with Middlebury and Dartmouth not far behind us."
The Alpine teams takes the stage at Park City, Utah on Friday for the slalom race, before Saturday's 20K Freestyle competition at Soldier Hollow. St. Pierre is excited for the skate race.
"In general this season, we have been much better in skate races," he said. "We know how to pace and fuel for eight laps on this course in warm sloppy conditions because we did it 10 days ago at the RMISA Regional Championships. I am confident that we will throw down some strong performances on Saturday and pick up some ground on Denver as we chase a top three team finish at NCAA championships. No MSU ski team has achieved in history."
Top 5 Through 2 Events
1. Utah, 299.5
2. Colorado, 288
3. Denver, 208.5
4. Montana State, 178.5
5. Middlebury, 153
MEN'S RESULTS
14. Simon Chappaz, 19:30.3
18. Grey Barbier, 19:48.0
30. Gavin Galyardt, 20:30.2
WOMEN'S RESULTS
11. Felicie Chappaz, 26:56.8
13. Katey Houser, 27:18.5
31. Maeve MacLeod, 30:14.3
#GoCatsGo
Grad student Felicie Chappaz finished 11th in a time of 26:56.8, while senior Katey Houser's mark of 27:18.5 was good for 13th. It marked the ninth time in Houser's 10 races this season that she has finished 13th or higher. Sophomore Maeve MacLeod finished 31st (30:14.3).
Montana State Nordic head coach Adam St. Pierre said changing course conditions during the race hurt those beginning later in the morning of the individual start competition. "The course conditions changed a lot for the later starters," he said. "Katey started in the middle of the field and had a good race. Felicie and Maeve started toward the back of the field and had to ski through slush that the early starters did not have to deal with. I would estimate the course was at least a full minute slower for Felicie and Maeve than it was for the girls who started in the first 10 bibs."
St. Pierre said he was proud of Chappaz's performance. "Felicie finishing 11th was a good race, but knowing how much the snow deteriorated, she could have been top five with an earlier start spot. I'm really happy with how she skied. It is just unfortunate luck. Similarly, Maeve skied a very good classic race and ended up just outside of the top 30."
Earlier, Montana State's men competed on "nice, firm conditions" that led to "fast times and small gaps between places," St. Pierre said. Graduate student Simon Chappaz finished 14th (19:30.3), sophomore Grey Barbier finished 18th (19:48.0) and junior Gavin Galyardt was 30th (20:30.2). "All three men scored points for the team," St. Pierre said, "so I'm happy with that."
Team scores take into account men's and women's competitors in both the Alpine and Nordic competitions, and that remains the priority. "We ended the day ninth in men's team scoring and seventh in women's, but we scored enough points to hold on to fourth place. We lost a little ground to Denver with Middlebury and Dartmouth not far behind us."
The Alpine teams takes the stage at Park City, Utah on Friday for the slalom race, before Saturday's 20K Freestyle competition at Soldier Hollow. St. Pierre is excited for the skate race.
"In general this season, we have been much better in skate races," he said. "We know how to pace and fuel for eight laps on this course in warm sloppy conditions because we did it 10 days ago at the RMISA Regional Championships. I am confident that we will throw down some strong performances on Saturday and pick up some ground on Denver as we chase a top three team finish at NCAA championships. No MSU ski team has achieved in history."
Top 5 Through 2 Events
1. Utah, 299.5
2. Colorado, 288
3. Denver, 208.5
4. Montana State, 178.5
5. Middlebury, 153
MEN'S RESULTS
14. Simon Chappaz, 19:30.3
18. Grey Barbier, 19:48.0
30. Gavin Galyardt, 20:30.2
WOMEN'S RESULTS
11. Felicie Chappaz, 26:56.8
13. Katey Houser, 27:18.5
31. Maeve MacLeod, 30:14.3
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
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