MINNEAPOLIS (csssaints.com) - Anita Kirvesniemi (Simpele, Finland/Joensuun Yhteiskoulun Lukio (New Mexico)) and Allison Ternes (Vadnais Heights, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) battled near the front of the field the entire race, during the CCSA Championships 15km classic mass start Friday at Wirth Park and led the St. Scholastica women's skiing team to a second place finish behind powerhouse Northern Michigan.
 
Kirvesniemi crossed the line fourth in a time of 44:53.6, while Ternes managed her CCSA-best finish of seventh in a time of 45:14.0. Sharmila Ahmed (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS) finished 15th in 47:05.1, to round out the Saints scoring and capture second on the day behind NMU.
 

It was a fast start and the effort never let off as Michigan Tech's Ulrika Axelsson seemed bent on dropping the whole field. Northern Michigan's Jordy Ross and Felicia Gesior, however, never gave Axelsson an inch, as the three traded pace at the front of the field.
 

Despite the antics of the trio, a large group maintained a 10 to 15 second gap most of the race. Kirvesniemi, who flipped a 30 second deficit to Gesior into a 10 second win just three weeks ago on the same course, was not feeling the winning ways on the third lap of five, as her teammate Ternes, moved into fourth with two laps to go. It was Ternes' first race ever over 10km in distance.

"I think Allison just was feeling good and had no real experience beyond lap three," said Saints head coach Chad Salmela. "She got excited, but tired a bit down the stretch."  
 

As the pace quickened on the final lap, Gesior gapped Axelsson for the win in 44:32.9 to Axelsson's 44:34.7. Ross finished third in 44:41.3. Kirvesniemi surged on the final lap to move into fourth as Ternes tired and dropped to seventh. Ahmed had a very rough start and moved through the field to finish in the top 15.
 

"I just felt like my legs were flat," said Kirvesniemi of her race. "I was pretty tired on the third lap." Salmela felt Kirvesniemi skied really smart. "You can be capable of winning a race and the way the day goes and your fitness that day determines that," said Salmela. "She was super savvy today to get fourth, despite hitting a rough patch. That's just really smart racing that gets you there under the circumstances."
 

Salmela was equally if not more impressed with Ternes. "To be seventh in this field as a freshman in your first 15km is just super impressive. I think race of the day goes to Allison. Huge."
 

With Northern Michigan and Alaska choosing not to contend at the CCSA Championship relay and sprint, the Saints face a final day of competition Sunday at Wirth, the 10km freestyle, with a great chance at their first ever CCSA Championship win. They lead Michigan Tech by 20 points going into Sunday's 5km freestyle.
 

"It's a great opportunity for us," says Salmela. "We can't do much about what other teams decide to do or not to do. We had a strong weekend last weekend. We know that Tech wants it equally as bad as we do, and we just have to go out and do our best and let the chips fall where they do."