By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News/Blizzard Broadcasting. Photos courtesy SSWSC.
The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Cross Country team had top finishes at the Rocky Mountain Junior National Qualifier in Frisco. The U16 Mens team of Bode Rhodes, Conor Devin, and Sawyer Landers, swept the podium in two events. Other podium finishes from Steamboat athletes were from Livia Spector, Lylah Keller, Antigone Loomis, Sophia McGinnis-Smith, and Anna Rhodes.
Press Release from Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Feb. 14, 2026.
SSWSC Cross Country Ski Team Delivers Outstanding Performances at DU Invite and Junior National Qualifier
FRISCO, Colo. – The Steamboat Springs Winter Sport Club Cross Country Ski Team delivered outstanding performances at the DU Invite and Rocky Mountain Junior National Qualifier in Frisco this past weekend, Feb. 6–9, highlighted by dominant podium finishes in Friday’s classic mass start races and continued success in Sunday’s freestyle individual start events. The U16 men’s team swept the podium both days!
Friday’s classic mass start races showcased the team’s depth and strength across multiple age groups. In the U16 mens division, Bode Rhodes placed first, Sawyer Landers finished second and Conor Devin took third. In the U16 girls race, Livia Spector earned first and Lylah Keller placed second. In the U18/20 women’s division, Antigone Loomis finished first and Sophia McGinnis-Smith placed third.
Sunday’s individual start freestyle races continued the momentum with more podium finishes. In the U16 mens division, Bode Rhodes finished first, Conor Devin placed second and Sawyer Landers took third. Lylah Keller won the U16 girls race. Sophia McGinnis-Smith placed third in the U18 women’s division, and Anna Rhodes finished third in the U20 women’s race.
In addition to the domestic success, SSWSC athlete Georgia Bishop represented Team USA in international competition in Scandinavia. Racing up an age group in the U18 division, Bishop surged 31 places from her start position to finish ninth in a 15-kilometer freestyle mass start in Ulricehamn, Sweden. She also earned a fifth-place finish in a 7.5-kilometer freestyle race Feb. 1 in Trondheim, Norway.
The SSWSC Cross Country Team will race next at the CU Invite on home snow Saturday. The fourth and final Junior National Qualifier of the season will take place Feb. 21–22 in Aspen.
Classic Mass Start Results
U16 Mens
1st – Bode Rhodes
2nd – Sawyer Landers
3rd – Conor Devin
U16 Women
1st – Livia Spector
2nd – Lylah Keller
U18/20 Women
1st – Antigone Loomis
3rd – Sophia McGinnis-Smith
Freestyle Individual Start Results
U16 Mens
1st – Bode Rhodes
2nd – Conor Devin
3rd – Sawyer Landers
U16 Women
1st – Lylah Keller
U18 Women
3rd – Sophia McGinnis-Smith
U20 Women
3rd – Anna Rhodes