Complete Results
DULUTH, Minn. – Senior #Waylon Manske# led the St. Scholastica men skiers in their home meet, the Saints Hilltop Invitational men's 10km freestyle at the Marshall School in Duluth, with a sixth place finish in a time of 31:40.1 for the 10.8km course.
The competition was the first in-region NCAA Championship qualifier for the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA). NCAA qualifying began last week in Maine at the U.S. National Championships.
The University of Alaska-Fairbanks swept the podium behind winner, John Parry, in a time of 30:25.0. Teammate Ray Sabo was second, just two seconds back in 30:27.3. The Nanooks clinched the perfect score as Alex Morris finished just another seven seconds back in 30:34.3.
Saints sophomore #Jeremy Hecker# landed in the eighth spot in a time of 31:49.0, while sophomore #Kasey Bacso# rounded out the Saints scoring, finishing 16th, in a time of 32:53.7. The Saints men finished in runner-up position behind Alaska-Fairbanks.
The invitational also served as day one of the Minnesota College Championships. Gustavus Adolphus skier, Jens Brabbit, who finished fourth overall, edged Manske for top honors by 18 seconds. Hecker finished third in the Minnesota Championships, while Bacso finished sixth respectively. The Saints men won the team event and hold a seven-point lead over Gustavus going into the classic competition. The Saints are the three-time defending Minnesota College Champions.
“I was a little tired from (this week's) training, but I felt strong,” said Manske of his performance. “I just don't feel like I have that top gear yet.”
Despite several of the U.S. Nationals competitors coming down with sickness in the last week, Manske, Hecker, and Bacso all stayed healthy over the Saints Christmas break camp, getting a strong week of training in.
“I'm really happy with the way the guys skied today—especially how well the depth of the team skied,” said Saints head coach #Chad Salmela#. “We usually put in a good week of training after nationals and let things fall where they will in the races on this weekend.”
With Northern Michigan's strong squad absent and the Nanooks top three skiers in Europe racing for the United States at the Junior World and Under-23 World Championships, Salmela saw an opportunity for the Saints to have their first CCSA individual winner.
“I looked at the start list and realized there was nobody in this field that Waylon has never beaten, and Jeremy has been skiing as well or better than Waylon so far this year, I thought we had an exciting double prospect at our first program CCSA winner. It was just kind of something that entered my mind last night and would have been great to do for the first time at our home meet, but UAF is just on fire as a team right now. They are really impressive.”
Despite the notion of a win not playing out, the Saints still knocked off Michigan Tech by five points to claim second. “That's a statement to the strength of our team this year,” said Salmela.
The competition continues at Marshall School on Sunday, with the men's 10km classic beginning at 11 a.m.
