Race Results

IRONWOOD, Mich. – #Tyler Kjorstad# (Sr.-Duluth, Minn./Marshall) has solidified himself in the first two weekends of early season ski racing as a legitimate threat for his first NCAA Championship berth, with yet another top 10 finish against Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) competition.

Today, amidst heavy falling snow and challenging waxing conditions, Kjorstad chalked up a 13th place finish overall, crossing the line ninth among eligible CCSA collegiate racers in a time of 28:42.8. He finished 1:35 behind overall and collegiate winner, Santiago Ocariz, of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a best time of 27:07.5.

He out-strode CXC Elite team members Matt Liebsch (2nd, 27:11.6) and Andre Watt (3rd, 27:16.6) of Duluth. #Jason Kask# (Sr.-Duluth, Minn./East), still trying to come back from a two-week ailment, finished second for the Saints in 38th place in a time of 30:42.2, and #Waylon Manske# (So.-Bemidji, Minn.) rounded out the Saints team scoring positions with a 43rd place finish in a time of 30:53.3. Kask and Manske finished 24th and 27th among college skiers, respectively.

"Classic has been our Achilles heal, and with Jason still not up to racing form, we suffered again today compared to other CCSA teams," said Saints Head Coach, Chad Salmela. "I think Tyler had a solid race in a very tightly contested competition, and continues to show he can classic ski. Jason was still flat, but I'm not worried about him coming around in the coming weeks, and everyone else improved a bit today, so it was good. A little more sharpening up for everyone between now and Christmas will have us pretty close to where we want to be by New Years, but this weekend was a very solid start, all things considered."

The Saints have a competitive break until after New Years. Kjorstad, Manske, and Kask will next represent the Saints men's program at the U.S. National Championships in Anchorage, AK, January 3rd through 7th.

Grandview XC Challenge
Ironwood, MI
Men's 10km Classic
12/14/08

1. Santiago Ocariz, UWGB  27:07.5
2. Matt Liebsch, CXC Elite  27:11.6
3. Andre Watt, CXC Elite, Duluth  27:16.6
4. Phill Viollett, NMU  27:35.6
5. Kevin Cutts, NMU  27:44.0
6. Petter Sjulstad, MTU  28:14.9
7. Chris Bowler, Unattached  28:16.1
8. Jens Brabbit, GAC  28:31.1
9. Craig Hertz, UWGB  28:31.8
10. Chris Harvey, MTU  28:33.4
13. Tyler Kjorstad (Duluth, Minn./Marshall School), CSS  28:42.8
38. Jason Kask (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS), CSS  30:42.2
43. Waylon Manske (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS), CSS  30:53.3
49. Stefan Hupperts (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View HS), CSS  31:12.6
50. Matt Nistler (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS),  CSS 31:14.0
70. Kirk Leach (Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins HS), CSS  32:51.0