STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (csssaints.com) -- St. Scholastica's Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, Wash./Liberty Bell HS) finished her debut race at an NCAA Skiing Championship in 33^rd place with a time of 14:12.4, in the women's 5km freestyle, that kicked off the Nordic portion of the championships.

Montana State's Annika Miller was the surprise winner in 13:06.1. Colorado's Petra Hycincova was second in 13:14.0, while Utah's Sloan Storey was just one-tenth of second further back in third in a time of 13:14.1.

Dickinson started under control as she'd planned to and raced a controlled race at the 6,600-foot altitude. "I feel maybe I didn't start fast enough," said Dickinson of her race. 

But head coach Chad Salmela felt it was a sound performance and tactic for her NCAA debut at this altitude. "There's a lot that can go wrong with starting too hard in this low oxygen," said Salmela. While he sensed Dickinson was capable of more, he felt she skied smart, and it was a "race in the 'good' column" for her personally.  "It certainly wasn't a bad race. She was in the realm she's exhibited most of the year against her regional counterparts, but it wasn't her best race using that metric. When you don't ring the bell at a championship, you can always second-guess strategy.  I think her fitness is great and she'll do really well Saturday."

Dickinson finished the day as the third Division III athlete in the field, beaten only by two skiers from Middlebury College. "I like that," said Salmela. "When we go up against Middlebury, Colby, and Bates, and Midd is the only team that gets you, I'm good with that for sure."

Montana State won the women's Nordic team score on the day with 89 points, and after two days of competition the Bobcats as a program, lead the championship outright with a massive success in the giant slalom on day 1. Utah was second on the day in women's Nordic, with 81 points, while Colorado was third with 59. St. Scholastica tied for 13^th with four other scoreless programs. For the NCAA Championships, teams must place a skier in the top 30 to score points.

The NCAA Skiing Championships conclude Saturday with a 15km mass start classic event.