Complete Results

COLERAINE, Minn. (csssaints.com) – Junior Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly HS) continued his string of podium finishes, bumping them to four in a row, with a third place finish in the men's 10km classic at the Mt. Itasca CCSA NCAA qualifier Friday, crossing the line in a time of 27:10.3.

Northern Michigan's Kyle Bratrud won his second straight CCSA classic race in a time of 26:46.0.  NMU took the top two spots as Fredrick Schwenke edged Schommer by 10.5 seconds in a time of 26:59.8.

Junior Chris Parr (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) had arguably his best collegiate race to date, taking fourth, just 5.5 seconds behind Schommer, in a time of 27:15.8. John Wessling (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) rounded out the Saints scoring in seventh with a time of 27:43.8.

The Saints threatened NMU early with Schommer sitting in second to Bratrud, but just two seconds up on Schwenke, while Parr sat in fourth and Wessling dead even with Northern Michigan's George Cartwright for fifth.

"The second lap was the gripper," according to Saints head coach Chad Salmela. "I was looking at the math, and if things fell the right way on the second lap, I knew we could beat Northern (Michigan) for the first time when they are at or near their full fire power." 

But the seconds fell in Northern Michigan's favor as Schwenke flipped his deficit on Schommer to 10 seconds in his own favor, and Cartwright charged on Parr, while Wessling felt flat on his second 5km. In the end, Northern Michigan would take the win, 84 to 79.  Michigan Tech finished third with 66 points.

"It just feels really good to have a team that can perform with (Northern Michigan) the way we are right now. Things are really good for where we are in the season. I'm very happy with today."

The Saints finish up the weekend of racing Saturday at Mt. Itasca, with a 10km freestyle.