RESULTS | TEAM SCORES

ISHPEMING, Mich. (csssaints.com) - Sharmila Ahmed (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS) led the St. Scholastica women's skiing team in a nearly carbon copy of day one on the second day of the season opener at the Northern Michigan University Wildcat Invitational. Ahmed finished in sixth to lead the Saints for a second straight day of a second place team finish behind powerhouse NMU.   

The 10km classic was run in a pursuit format that is not run in the NCAA repertoire. All skiers chased Saturday's winner of the 5km freestyle by the time interval they finished behind the winner, adding a chasing dynamic that is different from a mass start and individual start. The pursuit results were based on order of finish, but race course times and team scores from the time on course Sunday were the official results on the day. 

Kristen Bourne charged to the front for the home team and took the win in a time of 33:08.4. Teammate Felicia Gesior took second in 33:26.7, while Vivian Hett made it a perfect score for the Wildcats again in third in a time of 33:36.2.

Ahmed equaled her Saturday finish in a time of 33:48.2, while senior Anita Kirvesniemi (Simpele, Finland/Joensuun Yhteiskoulun Lukio (New Mexico)) improved to eighth in 34:09.4. Freshman Allison Ternes (Vadnais Heights, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) scored for a second straight day and improved to 11^th in a time of 34:57.0. The Saints once again edged the Michigen Tech Huskies to take second, but by five points on Sunday instead of just one point on Saturday, taking second for the weekend's action.  

"It was another solid early season day," said head coach Chad Salmela. "With temps in the mid 40s, the kick waxing scared me a bit since I was alone and usually rely on (assistant coach) Josh (Tesch) to make the kick wax decisions, but it worked out alright and I learned a new skill. The condition were challenging and the ladies skied really well under summer-like snow conditions. It was a fun twist we rarely face for conditions, and that's good practice for the athletes and the coaches."

The Saints head to Houghton, Mich. next weekend for two classic competitions as part of an early season tune up at a USSA Junior Olympic qualifier.