PALMER & GIRDWOOD, ALASKA – Magnus Noroey and Leon Nikic each posted podium finishes for the University of Alaska Anchorage ski team at the NCAA West Regional Championships Friday.

Magnus Noroey finished second just one second behind race winner Bernhard Flaschberger of Denver in the 10-kilometer individual freestyle race in a time of 26:03 at Government Peak.

Ari Endestad placed 12^th (27:14), Peter Hinds 13^th (27:15), Matt Seline 17^th (27:30) and Sigurd Roenning 23^rd (27:49).

Tuva Byrgrave led the Seawolves in the women's five-kilometer freestyle race with a fourth-place finish in 14:33. Pascale Paradis was 10^th (14:48), and Astrid Stav was 14^th (14:57).

Utah's Novie McCabe won the women's race in a time of 13:51.

"Today was just awesome," said associate head coach Trond Flagstad. "We are posting really excellent performances which is what we want heading into tomorrow's 20K classic races and then the NCAA National Championships."

Leon Nikic collected his third podium finish of the week finishing third in the slalom at Alyeska. Nikic posted the fastest second run to finish in a time of 1:28.65, less than a half-second behind race winner Wilhelm Normannseth of Utah (1:28.26).

Jan Ronner finished 23^rd (1:32.12), Hunter Eid 24^th (1:32.13) Caeden Carruthers 27^th (1:36.16) and William Cashmore 32^nd (1:59.36).

Ainsley Proffit skied the sixth-fastest first run and finished 10^th overall in the women's slalom in 1:31.02.

Carmen Nielssen finished 11^th (1:31.05) thanks to a second run that was the fourth-fastest in the field.

Other finishers for the Seawolf women included Alyssa Hill 15^th (1:31.97), Ashleigh Alexander 19^th (1:32.39), Nicole Mah 28^th (1:32.28) and Ella Bromee 31^st (1:46.34).

"Another great day for Leon," said head coach Sparky Anderson. "The way he came out to win the second run and move into third on the day bodes well for moving into the NCAA National Championships. The girls skied well as a group, and we were able to qualify a full women's Alpine team to go to New York next week. The rest of the team fought hard and will keep working hard as we focus on the second half of the season."

Alaska Anchorage currently sits in fourth place in the team standings with 379 points, 67 points behind first place Montana State.

The NCAA West Regional Championships conclude Saturday with the 20-kilometer classic races at Government Peak.