Snocross leader Hibbert sweeps weekend races

Tucker Hibbert of Pelican Rapids, Minn., took the lead midway through the race Saturday and won the Pro Open class of the U.S. Air Force National in Salamanca, N.Y., a stop on the Championship Snocross circuit.

Hibbert, who also won Friday's Pro Open race, added to his lead in the season standings after 10 of 16 rounds.

Hibbert beat second-place Ross Martin by four seconds. His strategy was to compete carefully early in the race.

"I tried not to get caught up in the chaos of the first lap," he said.

Martin took the lead with several big jumps early in the race, but Hibbert said he didn't expect Martin to continue riding recklessly, and Martin didn't.

"There was guys doing some big jumps out there that I just wasn't comfortable doing," Hibbert said. "I could see Ross doing that big triple behind the start jump. I knew he'd only do it for the first few laps. So I was patient, stayed focused and was able to get around him for the win."

Ryan Springer of St. Francis won the Pro Lite class, as he did Friday, and took the lead in the standings. He said his confidence has grown since the season began at Duluth.

The Gophers' 4x400-meter relay team ran the second-fastest indoor time in program history Saturday at the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Jessica Waldvogel, Erin Hawkins, Emerald Egwim and Titania Markland placed second in the relay in 3:37.80, just 1.13 seconds off the program record of 3:36.67 set last season.

"The 4x400-meter relay team ran a well-executed race," coach Matt Bingle said.

"They ran faster than I expected them to, so that was a good tribute to them competing well and putting forth a team effort. They were all committed to racing well."

Along with anchoring the 4x400 relay, Markland won the 600-meter dash in a career-best 1:31.00, the Gophers' fourth-best time in history.