Liebsch wins Vasaloppet race 2nd year in row

Matt Liebsch of Plymouth won the 58K race in the 38th annual Mora (Minn.) Vasaloppet cross-country ski race Sunday for the second consecutive year under ideal weather conditions.

Liebsch, 26, won last weekend's City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis. Kristina Owen, 25, won the women's 58K.

Winners of other races included Evan Pengelly, Plymouth (men's 42K); Molly Watkins, Minneapolis (women's 42K); Nathan Porath, Red Wing (men's 35K) and Mary Beth Tuttle, Pine Springs (women's 35K).

More than 1,900 skiers were registered.

Cyclones edge Gophers Iowa State scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh to rally for a 6-5 victory over the Gophers softball team at the Metrodome on Sunday.

The Gophers (3-3) had scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.

Kari Dorle doubled in two runs and Heidi Carls also drove in a run in the sixth for the Gophers.

Five other Team USA Minnesota runners competed, and all finished in the top 15 of their races.

In the men's race, Antonio Vega finished eighth in 35:41, and Matthew Gabrielson finished 10th in 35:47.

In the women's race, run on an 8-kilometer course, Emily Brown finished seventh in 26:55, Katie McGregor finished ninth in 27:08, and Meghan Armstrong finished 13th in 27:33.