HOUGHTON, Mich. (csssaints.com) -- The last time Chris Parr (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) toed the line at a U.S. Nationals sprint, he qualified for the heats and ended the day 14th, in the 2015 classic sprint. He was competing unattached at the time but while not a Saints record, it remains the high water mark by a St. Scholastica student at Nationals. The same day, Joe Dubay (Coon Rapids, Minn./Andover HS) and Reitler Hodgert (Bend, Ore./Summit HS ) both moved on to the heats, and Dubay posted and holds the program's best U.S. Nationals finish in 22^nd.

So as Monday's 1.5km freestyle sprint approached, the Saints bristled a bit as all three returned in Saints uniforms along with strong freestyle sprint addition, Sam Boardman (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge HS).  
A bug going through the team sidelined Hodgert for the day, however.

As if Hodgert's absence was a cue, the magic of last year didn't quite take hold Monday for the Saints, despite "very solid performances" according to Saints head coach Chad Salmela.  "We have the classic sprint at the end of the week which we're staying for this year, and I feel that's our stronger of the two sprints."

Boardman ultimately led the Saints with his finest U.S. Nationals performance to date, finishing 42^nd overall in 3:29.68, just 2.2 seconds shy of the top 30 qualifiers. Parr finished 49^thin 3:31.19, Dubay 52^nd in 3:31.51, and Ryan St. Clair (Bend, Ore./Summit HS (Walla Walla)) 97^th in 3:38.52. 

While not a collegiate race, the results of the sprint qualifier is used to conduct the College Cup results. The Saints skiers finished ninth, 13^th , 15^th and 37^th among college skiers and seventh, ninth, 11^th and 22^nd among CCSA skiers, respectively.

The top 30 competitors move onto heats, so the Saints ended their day with the qualifier.

"I'm pleased with where we are," said Saints head coach, Chad Salmela.  "It's nice to get into the heats, and we've done that with a few athletes in the past, but as a college program this time of year, it'll never be a goal of our team to do that here.  It's just a bonus if someone skis fast enough to qualify and makes the day fun and exciting, but our goals are longer distances, later in the season.  All three in the top 100 is fine with me for today, and I'm really happy for Sam leading the way today.  It's always nice when a freshman leads the charge.  I knew he was a strong freestyle sprinter so we kept him here an extra day to sprint before heading home to get some good training."

The Saints move to the other end of the spectrum Thursday as Nationals continue with a 30km freestyle mass start.