Complete Results
DULUTH, Minn. – Senior #Julia Curry# led the St. Scholastica women skiers in her team's home meet, the Saints Hilltop Invitational women's 5km freestyle held at the Marshall School, finishing in a time of 20:02.4 for the 5.4km course to finish 19th overall.
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 Wisconsin-Green Bay's Carolyn Freeman won the race handily in a time of 17:32.5, fifteen seconds better than University of Alaska-Fairbanks' Raphaela Sieber who tripped clock at 17:48.3. UAF's Theresia Schnurr took the final podium spot in 18:16.8.
Curry was flanked by sophomore #Sarah Allen#, who finished 24th in a time of 20:21.8, and senior #Lindsay Wallis# rounded out the Saints' scoring in 26th with a time of 20:31.1. The Saints women finished seventh in team scoring. Alaska-Fairbanks took first place overall.
The invitational also served as day one of the Minnesota College Championships. St. Olaf's Paige Schember, who finished fifth overall, took top honors in the Minnesota event in a time of 18:35.8. Curry, Allen, and Wallis finished eighth, ninth, and 10th respectively in the Minnesota Championship field. St. Olaf topped the field in team scores, while the Saints finished fourth.
“I feel like I'm starting come around but need a few more races,” said Curry of her performance. “But I felt the best I have so far this season.”
The Saints team is coming off of their Christmas Break camp in which several of the athletes caught a cold, compromising the start list for the Saints.
“I think for Julia, Sarah, and Lindsay, this was a good step forward with their racing performance, and I liked what I saw,” said Saints head coach #Chad Salmela#. “Eleanor (Magnuson) and Brooke (Adams) have both been fighting sickness since coming back from nationals. Looking back on the day, Eleanor perhaps should have sat out today like Brooke. We just have to be smart about how we proceed with them as we get into the bulk of the college racing now.”
The competition continues at Marshall School on Sunday, with the women's 5km classic, scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
