RESULTS

HOUGHTON, Mich. (csssaints.com) - Coming off a stellar classic sprint day in which she placed second in a national-caliber field, St. Scholastica senior Anita Kirvesniemi (Simpele, Finland/Joensuun Yhteiskoulun Lukio (New Mexico)) took further advantage of an all-classic technique weekend with a fifth place finish in the women's 10km classic mass start at the Michigan Tech Junior Olympic Qualifier Sunday. 

Her time was fourth fastest among the collegiate skiers in 34:25.2, just 14 seconds off the pace of Northern Michigan University's Kristen Bourne, who won a three-way photo finish in the time of 34:11.1. CXC Team's Natalia Naryshkina was a blink behind in 34:25.5, and Michigan Tech's Ulrika Axelsson rounded out the podium in another blink in 34:25.8.
 
Senior Sharmila Ahmed (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS) was just off the pace of Kirvesniemi in the eighth spot (seventh collegiately) in a time of 34:54.8, while senior, Liz Peterson (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake HS), threw down what was her definitive classic finish in a Saints uniform, in 12^th with a time of 36:46.5.

The race was a single 10km lap that allowed the top three Saints to see the leaders and maintain contact most of the way. "It was so much fun," said Kirvesniemi of the way the race played out. "Usually, they just go right away," meaning the pace in a mass start race takes off fast and is relentless. Kirvesniemi felt that there was a little more cat and mouse at the front allowing her to mark the leaders easily by staying relaxed, then drag racing uphill in the final few kilometers. "I kind of didn't know where the finish was and maybe went too early. I didn't have it on the final hill," she said.

"It was a great weekend for the ladies and I think a lot of the team came away with some confidence going into U.S. Nationals after New Years," said head coach Chad Salmela. "Anita had a great two days—probably her best two days of racing since setting foot in the U.S. three years ago, so that's super rewarding. And Sharmila and Liz both had good races today within spitting distance of the race leaders. I'm happy with where we are for the last races of December."

The Saints have a break over the holiday and head back to Houghton for the U.S. National Championships, January 4^th, 5^th, and 8^th.