BRUNSWICK, Maine – Bowdoin nordic skier Renae Anderson '21 (Golden Valley, Minn.) has been named to the United States Junior National Team that will compete at the Junior FIS Cross Country World Championships Feb. 8-14 in Vuokatti, Finland.
 
Anderson, who is not enrolled at Bowdoin this academic year, has been home in Minnesota working for the Loppet Foundation, where she has also been racing with her hometown club, Loppet Nordic Racing. Due to the lack of a traditional national championship due to COVID restrictions, the team was selected based on performances from regional races, of which Anderson posted strong enough performances to get a nod from U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
 
"After deciding to take a full year off from classes at Bowdoin, I have been able to train more than ever before," according to Anderson. "It is my last year in the U23 age group, so I kept motivated this fall by training with the stretch-goal of qualifying for Worlds in the back of my mind. Going into the qualifying races, I felt confident in my level of fitness but didn't fully know what to expect, as my season preparation had been a little different this year. I ended up feeling great and having some of my best races yet, qualifying me to race in Finland!"
 
"This is such a well-earned honor for Renae, she's been working hard for years and has come such a long way since she started at Bowdoin," said Bowdoin head nordic ski coach Nathan Alsobrook. "She absolutely loves to race, and this should be an amazing experience.  It's an exciting milestone for our whole team as well – when you see a teammate succeed at an elite level, it gives everyone a wonderful sense of possibility."
 
Through her first three years at Bowdoin, Anderson had established herself as one of the top skiers in the nation, becoming the first women's nordic skier in school history to qualify for three NCAA Championships.
 
"I am incredibly excited to have earned a spot at the U23 World Championships, especially when thinking back on the many years of steady progress that eventually led me to this point," said Anderson "Being a part of Bowdoin Nordic has continuously fueled my love for skiing, and I am so thankful for our coach Nathan Alsobrook, who has been one of the most influential people in my development and in helping me reach my potential."
 
The championship begins in Vuokatti, Finland on Monday, February 8 with racing to continue the entire week. The official website for the championship can be found here. Details on coverage will be forthcoming.