Race Results

IRONWOOD, Mich. – #Tyler Kjorstad# (Sr.-Duluth, Minn./Marshall) and #Waylon Manske# (So.-Bemidji, Minn.) showed strong early season fitness today, leading the Saints Men's skiers, finishing seventh and 11th overall in the Men's 10km Freestyle at the Grandview XC Challenge USSA NRL races in Ironwood, Mich.

The Saints duo, competing in this open event, stacked up fifth and eighth in the unofficial college standings. CXC Elite Team member, Matt Liebsch outclassed the field by 33.8 seconds over Duluth ER Doctor and 2008 American Birkebeiner third place finisher, Adam Swank, with at time of 23:49.9 to Swank's 24.23.8.

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Santiago Ocariz was the unofficial collegiate winner, finishing 3rd overall in 24:51. Saints' sophomore, #Stefan Hupperts# (So.-North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) finished third amongst the team in what would be a Saints scoring position in a Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) college competition. All CCSA conference teams were in attendance except for Alaska Fairbanks.

After last weekend's strong skate results, both Manske and Kjorstad stepped it up a notch this weekend in the first truly competitive and deep field. "I thought Waylon looked really strong leaving the start, and knew he was going to be tough today, and I saw Tyler at about 1 kilometer into the race, very controlled, but looking strong." said Saints head coach, Chad Salmela. "I didn't get to see the rest of the race, but the results are very solid for where we are with preparation. Stefan also stepped it up a notch today."

The Saints men continue action tomorrow in the 10km Classic event.

Grandview XC Challenge
Men's 10km FS
Ironwood, MI
12/13/08

1. Matt Liebsch, CXC  23:49.9
2. Adam Swank, Fischer XC, Duluth  24:23.8
3. Santiago Ocariz, UWGB  24:51.1
4. Phill Viollett, NMU  25:37.2
5. Jens Brabbit, GAC  25:39.6
6. Jesse Lang, MTU  25:43.3
7. Tyler Kjorstad (Duluth, Minn./Marshall School), CSS  25:45.2
8. Craig Hertz  25:45.2
9. Andre Watt, CXC, Duluth  25:45.3
10. Kyle Fredrickson, UWGB  25:46
11. Waylon Manske (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS), CSS  25:49.7
37. Stefan Hupperts (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View HS), CSS  27:34.6
41. Jason Kask (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS), CSS  27:44.3
52. Matt Nistler (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS), CSS  28:40.5
72. Kirk Leach (Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins HS), CSS  29:43.3