Complete Results

MINNEAPOLIS -- St. Scholastica junior Jeremy Hecker (Andover, Minn./Andover HS (Minnesota-Twin Cities)) continued his string of strong Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) performances with a seventh place finish in the 9km classic race, finishing in a time of 23:51.1, at Wirth Park. 

Northern Michigan University's Kjell-Christian Markset used a late surge in the final of three laps to claim his first CCSA victory in a time of 23:04.1, good enough for eighth place overall in the SuperTour.  At roughly the 7km mark to the finish, Markset was in a dead heat with  University of Alaska Fairbanks star freshman, Logan Hanneman, but Markset pulled 7.3 seconds out of the Nanook in the final two kilometers to claim victory.  NMU teammate, Erik Soderman, used similar late-race tactics to leap frog into third position at the finish in 23:22.9.

Hecker raced within the top three or four of the college field for most of the race, but slowed in the final kilometer by several skiers just seconds back most of the race, to land in seventh.  The result ties Heckers career-best classic result, with his previous best at an event with the strong UAF team absent.

CSS sophomore John Wessling (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) posted his career best CCSA finish in 14th place in a time of 24:30.1.  Junior Kasey Bacso (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) rounded out the Saints scoring in 20th with at time of 24:47.2.  NMU took the day with UAF in second, and Michigan Tech in third.  The Saints finished fourth, again showing depth with six in the top 25 and eight in the top 30.

"We had a very strong showing again this in what has traditionally been our weaker technique," said Saints head coach Chad Salmela.  "I don't think classic is our weaker technique anymore, and I think today proved it with Jeremy equaling his best in a full field and John with a strong 14th and best career finish.  We are skiing very solidly as a team and I'm happy with the day's efforts."

The Saints race a 15km freestyle Sunday as the Supertour continues at Wirth Park.