PCHS grad Wes Campbell cross country skis into 3rd place in NCAA race

Park City's Wes Campbell (far right) took 3rd place in Wisconsin NCAA/US Ski Team cross country ski race. Photo: courtesy of Michigan Tech.

CABLE, Wis. — Park City High School grad and Park City Ski and Snowboard Team (PCSS) athlete Wes Campbell of Michigan Tech University placed third in the cross country, sprint, 10k U20 race on Sunday in Wisconsin in the Solomon CXC Cup with a finish time of 24:50.8, just six-tenths of a second behind the second place finisher from Northern Michigan University.

The race win went to Campbell’s teammate Skyler Patten, also a PCSS alumni.

Campbell also competes in biathlon, having skied and shot in multiple Jr. World Championships.

While a student at Park City’s Ecker Hill Middle School and Treasure Mountain Jr. High, he was ski jumping in Nordic combined at Utah Olympic Park with the Youth Sports Alliance.

“The team had great competitive improvements this weekend in both races,” head coach Tom Monahan Smith told a Michigan Tech reporter. “We’re really excited to be in a great place competitively to finish the Dec. race period in a confident spot with our preparations now focused on U.S. Nationals…Wes Campbell came back to win the junior heats in a very commanding fashion.”

The conditions were challenging as the snow was wet and sloppy.

“The team really paced the race to perfection in the skate distance race today and I think it showed in the success that we had–definitely having our strongest race of the season today.” Coach continued. “We know that we’re really strong in skate distance races, but it was awesome to show that those are going to continue to be a strength of ours. The team paced progressively, getting faster in tough conditions. It was awesome to see Skylar be healthy and showing that he’s in incredible shape, taking that win along with Wes Campbell having his best skate race of his career as a Husky to get onto the podium for the first time in a CCSA skate race.”

Not only is Campbell excelling on the field of play but also off, as he’s on the Academic Excellence Team.