Complete Results

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Mason and Kasey Bacso (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) each shined for St. Scholastica in their respective races Wednesday at the U.S. National Cross Country Skiing Championships, which also served as the second NCAA qualifier for the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA).

Older brother #Mason Bacso# (Jr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) laid down a top 10 finish for the second straight day in CCSA qualifying action this week by placing ninth among CCSA competitors in the men's 30km mass start classic, in a time of 1:45:43.9 seconds. Santiago Ocariz won the CCSA race in 1:38:18.6, finishing a career-high 16th overall in the U.S. Championships field. Einar Often of Alaska-Fairbanks led a dominant team performance finishing second in 1:40.4 seconds, 40.7 seconds ahead of teammate Erik Soederstrom in third spot. CSS junior #Waylon Manske# (Jr.-Bemidji, Minn.) finished in 15th.

Local star and 2006 Olympian, James Southam upset heavy favorite, Kris Freeman by 1:09.9 seconds to take the victory in the National Championship race in a time of 1:38:18.6 seconds. Bryan Cook of Rhinelander, Wis., took third. Bacso and Manske finished 43rd and 55th in a field that saw many skiers dropping out due to the difficult, snowy conditions.

Later in the day, #Kasey Bacso# (Fr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) posted an impressive 10th place finish in the junior men's 10km classic race with a time of 32:43.9 seconds. The race was the final qualifier for the U.S. Junior World Championships Team. Scott Patterson of Anchorage dominated the field, winning by over a minute in a time of 30:30.2 seconds, over another Anchorage skier now attending Dartmouth College, Eric Packer. Andrew Dougherty made it a sweep of the podium for Anchorage skiers in third, skiing for the University of Denver. Bacso was the second CCSA junior skier in the field, finishing 2.6 seconds behind Tyler Kornfield of Anchorage, skiing for Alaska-Fairbanks. Kornfield was named to the U.S. Junior World Championship Team. Saints freshman #Ryan Wright# (Fr.-Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake) finished 51st in the junior field.

“It was just a great day overall,” said Saints head coach Chad Salmela. “Mason had his second top 10, skiing a really gutsy race in his first 30km classic. You don't need to say much about Kasey. Top 10 in the country today among 19 and under skiers is simply a big result. Overall, I'd say it was the single most successful day we've had as a program at the U.S. Nationals. It was a nice end to our week of racing here.”

The Saints race next at the Minnesota Collegiate Championships, January 17th, at St. John's University.

CCSA NCAA Qualifier
Men's 30km Mass Start Classic
Anchorage, AK
1/6/10

1. OCARIZ, Santiago University of Wisconsin-Green 12 1:38:18.6 +6:10.3
2. OFTEN, Einar University of Alaska Fairbanks 15 1:40:15.4 +8:07.1
3. SOEDERSTROEM, Erik University of Alaska Fairbanks 18 1:40:56.1 +8:47.8
4. PARRY, John University of Alaska Fairbanks 7 1:42:07.3 +9:59.0
5. SOOM, Henri University of Alaska Fairbanks 12 1:42:51.8 +10:43.5
6. CUTTS, Kevin Northern Michigan University 13 1:43:07.4 +10:59.1
7. MORRIS, Alex University of Alaska Fairbanks 14 1:44:29.6 +12:21.3
8. SABO, Ray University of Alaska Fairbanks 16 1:44:41.7 +12:33.4
9. BACSO, Mason College of St Scholastica 18 1:45:43.9 +13:35.6
10. COOK, Timothy Northern Michigan University 19 1:45:59.8 +13:51.5
15. MANSKE, Waylon College of St Scholastica 24 1:59:11.6 +27:03.3


US National Championships
Men's 30km Mass Start Classic
Anchorage, AK
1/6/10

1. SOUTHAM, James APU Nordic Ski Center 1 1:32:08.3 0
2. FREEMAN, Kris USST 2 1:33:18.2 +1:09.9
3. COOK, Bryan CXC Team Vertical Limit 3 1:33:43.0 +1:34.7
43. BACSO, Mason College of St Scholastica 18 1:45:43.9 +13:35.6
55. MANSKE, Waylon College of St Scholastica 24 1:59:11.6 +27:03.3


US Junior World Championship Team Trials
Men's 10km Classic
Anchorage, AK
1/6/10
1 445 PATTERSON, Scott Alaska Winter Stars 1 MJ1-10k 30:30.2 0
2 451 PACKER, Eric Dartmouth Ski Team 1 MOJ-10k 31:31.4 +1:01.2
3 441 DOUGHERTY, Andrew University of Denver Ski Team 2 MOJ-10k 31:40.8 +1:10.6
4 453 TARLING, Sam Dartmouth Ski Team 3 MOJ-10k 32:00.2 +1:30.0
5 444 SINCLAIR, David Green Mountain Valley School 2 MJ1-10k 32:09.2 +1:39.0
6 457 MARSTON, Chase Middlebury College Ski Team 4 MOJ-10k 32:15.4 +1:45.2
7 449 BJORNSEN, Erik Methow Olympic Development Project 5 MOJ-10k 32:17.3 +1:47.1
8 452 HANNEMAN, Logan Fairbanks Alaska Ski Team 3 MJ1-10k 32:39.4 +2:09.2
9 460 KORNFIELD, Tyler University of Alaska Fairbanks 6 MOJ-10k 32:41.3 +2:11.1
10 447 BACSO, Kasey College of St Scholastica 7 MOJ-10k 32:43.9 +2:13.7
51 417 WRIGHT, Ryan College of St Scholastica 27 MOJ-10k 35:45.2 +5:15.0