Freed Races First Ever Mass Start, Wright Lands 12th

Margie Freed (Apple Valley, MN/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) closed out the season in spectacular fashion, capping a breakthrough weekend with her first career World Cup mass start appearance. After opening the weekend with a personal best 13th place finish in the sprint, her first-ever World Cup top 15, Freed followed it up with another top 30 result in the pursuit to qualify for the mass start. Rising to the occasion, she delivered a composed performance to finish 21st, missing just two of 20 targets.

“I was trying to focus on shooting today,” said Freed post-race. “I only missed two targets, which was very good for me in a four-stage race! The skiing was fun, there were a lot of fans cheering so I had a great time out there!”

Freed crossed the line +2:28.4 behind Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi, who claimed the victory, joined on the podium by Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg and Czechia’s Tereza Vobornikova. With valuable World Cup points earned in Oslo, Freed concluded the 2025-26 season ranked 54th in the overall World Cup standings, adding to a milestone year that included multiple personal bests, a historic mixed relay bronze medal, and her Olympic debut.

In the final race of the season, Campbell Wright (Wanaka, NZL/Waiorau Nordic Skiing) capped another strong campaign with a 12th place finish in the men’s 15km mass start. Posting the 10th fastest ski time and eighth fastest range time of the day, Wright secured 13th place in the overall World Cup standings.