Complete Results

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – St. Scholastica junior #Waylon Manske# (Jr.-Bemidji, Minn.) continued his run of top-10 finishes in Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) freestyle competitions posting a ninth place finish in Monday's CCSA NCAA qualifier in the Men's 15km Freestyle, in a time of 42:44.8 seconds.

The qualifier was held within the U.S. National Championships. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Santiago Ocariz led the way with at time of 39:54.9 seconds, dominating the CCSA race by over a minute. Northern Michigan's George Cartwright finished second in 40:57.3 seconds with Michigan Tech's Jesse Lang finishing third in 41:20.2 seconds.

Manske finished inside the top 10 in every freestyle race in the 2009 season making today his sixth straight freestyle top-10 in CCSA competition.

Manske led a strong performance by the Saints men with junior #Mason Bacso# (Jr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) finishing 7.5 seconds and one spot back of Manske, in 10th spot, with at time of 42.52.3 seconds. Freshman #Kasey Bacso# (Fr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) rounded out the Saints scoring finishing 12th in 43:11.5. They finished 60th, 64th, and 68th respectively in the U.S. National Championships, within which the CCSA qualifier was conducted. Kasey Bacso (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) was the 15th junior (ages 19 and Under).

The top American distance skier, Kris Freeman won soundly by 24.5 seconds over surprise second place finisher, Tad Elliott of Durango, Colorado. Local Anchoragite and 2006 Olympian, James Southam, finished third, 57.6 seconds back of Freeman.

“Overall, the guys skied really, really well,” said Saints head coach Chad Salmela. “We had three guys in the top 70 in the national championship race, which we've never even been close to in the past, and having three in the top 12 of the CCSA race, is just a really strong showing for our program. Considering we are still on our way up in race fitness, this bodes well for the rest of the season.”

The Saints finish their stint at the U.S. National Championships Wednesday with a 30km classic mass start for senior athletes (20 and over) and at 10km classic for juniors (19 and under). The 30km race will be a CCSA NCAA qualifying race.

CCSA NCAA Qualifier
Anchorage, AK (part of US National Championships)
1/4/10
Men's 15km Freestyle
1. OCARIZ, Santiago 23 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 39:54.9
2. CARTWRIGHT, George 18 Northern Michigan University 40:57.3
3. LANG, Jesse 23 Michigan Tech University 41:20.2
4. CUTTS, Kevin 21 Northern Michigan University 11 41:31.3
5. KORNFIELD, Tyler 18 University of Alaska Fairbanks 42:12.6
6. COOK, Timothy 22 Northern Michigan University 42:28.8
7. PARRY, John 20 University of Alaska Fairbanks 42:31.9
8. MORRIS, Alex 20 University of Alaska Fairbanks 42:34.5
9. MANSKE, Waylon 21 College of St Scholastica 42:44.8
10. BACSO, Mason 21 College of St Scholastica 42:52.3
12. BACSO, Kasey 18 College of St Scholastica 43:11.5
24. WRIGHT, Ryan 18 College of St Scholastica 49:08.2

US National Chamionships
Anchorage AK
1/4/10
Men's 15km Freestyle
1. FREEMAN, Kris 29 USST MSR 1 37:17.6 0
2. ELLIOTT, Tad 21 CXC Team Vertical Limit MU23 1 37:42.1 +24.5
3. SOUTHAM, James 31 APU Nordic Ski Center MSR 2 38:15.2 +57.6
60 MANSKE, Waylon 21 College of St Scholastica MU23 17 42:44.8 +5:27.2
64. BACSO, Mason 21 College of St Scholastica MU23 18 42:52.3 +5:34.7
68. BACSO, Kasey 18 College of St Scholastica MOJ 12 43:11.5 +5:53.9
133. WRIGHT, Ryan 18 College of St Scholastica MOJ 35 49:08.2 +11:50.6