Complete Results

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – St. Scholastica sophomore #Eleanor Magnuson# (So.-Champlin Park, Minn.) wore the Saints colors for the first time Monday in Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) competition since transferring at the semester break, and started her collegiate racing career with a 15th place finish in the women's 10km freestyle NCAA qualifier.

Alaska-Fairbanks' Aurelia Korthauer led the CCSA field in a time of 31:43.2 seconds, edging Nanook teammate, Anna Coulter by 31.6 seconds. Michigan Tech's Henna Riikonen-Purtsi finished third in 32:20.5 seconds. CSS junior #Julia Curry# (Jr.-Woodbury, Minn.) finished 21st in 36:28.1 seconds.

The CCSA NCAA qualifier was conducted within the U.S. National Championships race. Anchorage's Kikkan Randall of the US Ski Team took top honors for the second straight day, with a winning time of 28:40.1 seconds. Minneapolis's Caitlin Compton finished second, 10.4 seconds back in 28:50.5 seconds. Montpelier, Vermont's Elizabeth Stephen finished third in 29:03.7 seconds. Magnuson and Curry finished 74th and 113th in the National Championship event, respectively.

“It was a good start for Eleanor's collegiate career, but Julia had a rough day, so it was a 50/50 day for us,” said Saints head coach Chad Salmela. “This is a tough field to compete against and any time you get a chance to, it's good for experience either way the fortunes fall on the course. Eleanor has shown she is ready to compete with the top of the CCSA and Julia will be there with a normal performance.”

The Saints finish their stint at the U.S. National Championships Wednesday with a 20km classic mass start for senior athletes (20 and over) and at 5km classic for juniors (19 and under). The 20km race will be a CCSA NCAA qualifying race.

CCSA NCAA Qualifier
Anchorage AK
1/4/10
Women's 10km Freestyle
1. KORTHAUER, Aurelia 23 University of Alaska Fairbanks 31:43.2
2. COULTER, Anna 23 University of Alaska Fairbanks 32:14.8
3. RIIKONEN-PURTSI, Henna 25 Michigan Tech University 32:20.5
4. GILLIS, Christina 21 Northern Michigan University 32:24.7
5. SCHNURR, Theresia 21 University of Alaska Fairbanks 32:26.6
6. DEWITT, Laura 23 Northern Michigan University 32:29.0
7. PIERSON, Julia 23 University of Alaska Fairbanks 32:39.7
8. MARKVARDSEN, Monic 18 Northern Michigan University 32:59.3
9. ANGELES, Elisabeth 22 University of Alaska Fairbanks 33:27.1
10. FREEMAN, Carolyn 21 University of Wisconsin-Green 33:37.1
15. MAGNUSON, Eleanor 19 College of St Scholastica 34:24.8
21. CURRY, Julia 20 College of St Scholastica 36:28.1

US National Chamionships
Anchorage AK
1/4/10
Women's 10km Freestyle
1. RANDALL, Kikkan 27 USST/APU 28:40.1 0
2. COMPTON, Caitlin 29 Go! Traing 28:50.5 +10.4
3 250 STEPHEN, Elizabeth 22 USST/BMA 29:03.7 +23.6
74. MAGNUSON, Eleanor 19 College of St Scholastica 34:24.8 +5:44.7
113. CURRY, Julia 20 College of St Scholastica 36:28.1 +7:48.0