HOUGHTON, Mich. (csssaints.com) -- Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, Wash./Liberty Bell HS) turned in her top finish at a U.S. Cross Country Skiing National Championships, Thursday in Houghton, crossing the line 30^th overall, in a time of 1:07:37.0.  The race also doubled as a CCSA conference and NCAA qualifier meet, in which Dickinson finished fifth, also a career CCSA best finish, bettering her eighth place earlier in the week in the 10km classic.

Caitlin Patterson of Craftsbury, Vt., won overall in a time of 1:01:03.5. Chelsey Holmes of Alaska Pacific University was second in 1:01:07.5, while 18 year old wunderkind, Katherine Ogden of Stratton Mountain School finished third in 1:07:11.3, to claim third.

Andrea Lee of Michigan Tech finished 12^th overall, and claimed her first CCSA win in a time of 1:03:54.9.  Northern Michigan's Sophie Schimpl was 13^thoverall in 1:04:14.2 to take second in the CCSA, while teammate Felicia Gesior rounded out the CCSA podium, 24^th overall in 1:06:17.8

Ellie Evans (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS) (1:11:42.7) and Chelsey Youngberg (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) (1:12:27.1) were the only two remaining Saints on the start, finishing 46^th and 49^th overall, and 16^th and 18^th in the CCSA respectively.  The Saints finished fourth on the day as a team in the CCSA, behind NMU, Michigan Tech, and Alaska.

Dickinson was granted a higher start order in the mass start field after Saints head coach, Chad Salmela, requested a more realistic start position at the back of the field.  Dickinson has no ranking points having raced biathlon the last two seasons.   The competition jury granted Dickinson a mid-field start number that aided getting a suitable start.  

Off the gun, Dickinson moved quickly into the top 15 then realized "I probably should be there," at that point in the race.  "I didn't slow down [at that point] intentionally, but they were going a little faster than I thought I wanted to go.  I was being conservative."  In the end, she sensed she may have been too conservative, chasing a pack of skiers by herself for most of the second half of the race."

Salmela was surprised at Dickinson's performance after being afflicted with a gastrointestinal bug after Sunday's 10km classic.  "I think the week has been a challenge with the sickness.  It was a short, 24-hour thing, but it still drains you as an athlete with this week of racing.  Kelsey really skied pretty well considering."  He was also happy with Evans and Youngberg.  "Compared to the CCSA, Ellie and Chelsey both skied equal or better to the 10km so that's pretty promising despite some challenges this week for the team." 

The Saints compete Saturday in the final event of these 2016 U.S. National Championships, a 1.5km classic sprint.