Complete Results

CABLE, Wis. (csssaints.com) – Junior Sharmila Ahmed (Savage, Minn./Burnsville HS) posted a 12th place finish in the first NCAA qualifier of the season, the women's 10km mass start freestyle at Saturday's Telemark Chase, to lead the St. Scholastica's efforts.

Michigan Tech's Alice Flanders won handily over Alaska's Nichole Bathe by 37.8 seconds, Flanders posting 30:19.8 to Bathe's 30:57.8. Alaska's Heather Edic finished third in 30:58.4.

Freshman Ellie Evans (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS) surprised in her first NCAA qualifier, missing the top 20 by a mere .7 seconds to take 21st in a time 33:30.8. Senior, Sarah Allen (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS (Northern Michigan)), finished another 10.5 seconds back in 33:41.3 to take 22nd and round out the Saints scoring. 

The Saints finished 5th with 38 points.  Alaska edged Michigan Tech for the team win, 78 to 65, with Northern Michigan third with 61 points.

"I was really happy with our effort today, particularly considering I think we came in just a touch underprepared," according to Saints head coach Chad Salmela. "Despite it being a challenging two weeks with our primary pre-race camp getting canceled due to cold, we had some really bright spots like Ellie Evans (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS) today scoring and nearly going into the top 20.  I feel like we have to still overcome much of that lack of hard training we missed with the cold snap by racing a few more races.  Our women weren't at Nationals like much of this field, and I think that we simply need a couple races to catch up on our form.  I think we're close to racing where we can be.  I'm happy everyone skied hard regardless of the result because that's exactly what we need for the performances to get better."

The Saints finish up the Telemark Chase Sunday with a 5km classic.