HOUGHTON, Mich. (csssaints.com) -- Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, Wash./Liberty Bell HS) led the St. Scholastica women's ski team on the final day of U.S. Nationals competition, finishing 33^rd in the 1.5km classic sprint Saturday in a time of 4:49.95. Only the top 30 competitors advance to the head to head heats.  Dickinson posted her best finish of the week, but fell 4.93 seconds shy of the top 30, ending the Saints' day early.

Kaitlyn Miller of Craftsbury Green Team, qualified first and took the title in the finals ahead of teammate, Anne Hart of the Stratton Mountain T2, while Jennie Bender of the Bridger Ski Team finished third.

The race was neither at CCSA nor collegiate race, but Dickinson finished 10^th among CCSA skiers on the day. Chelsey Youngberg (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) finished 58^th overall and 20^th among CCSA skiers in 5:09.93, while Evelyn DeLong (Calumet, Mich./Calumet HS) was 61^st and 22^nd in the CCSA in 5:14.89.

"The ladies skied skied well, but Kelsey was just shy of qualifying," according to head coach Chad Salmela.  "We had such a great classic sprint last year at Nationals as a team, that we stayed for it this year.  While it's nice to advance, it's not the end of the world to me."  Salmela sees the sprints as "gravy" if the athletes do well, but is not particularly focused on them.  "We want to do well in the CCSA conference for the year and advance skiers to NCAAs.  That's what we're in the business of, and if we have good sprints at Nationals, that's fine but not atop our priority list.  It's always good to put on a number and race though."

The Saints take a small break and head to camp immediately in Cable, Wis., before racing the Minnesota College Championships on January 16 in St. Cloud.