RESULTS

CABLE, Wis. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's nordic ski team became the first St. Scholastica Athletics program since March 13 to take part in intercollegiate competition as it opened its season at the Gitchi Gami Games at the Birkie Trailhead on Saturday as part of the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) racing schedule.
 
Top Performances
Despite not practicing as a team since November, the Saints had 12 skiers competing in Saturday's 10km classic individual start.
 
Junior Rana Kraftson (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) used a strong second 5k to lead the Saints to an eighth place CCSA finish (18^th overall) with a time of 35:27. First-year skier Maj-Lis Helmer (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) was consistent throughout her first intercollegiate race and came in ninth among CCSA skiers (19^th overall) with a time of 35:30. The final Saint to score was senior Samantha Benzing (Boise, Idaho/Boise HS), who crossed the finish line with the 10^th-fastest CCSA time (21^st overall) at 35:44.
 
Two more first-year skiers rounded out the top-five finishers for the Saints. Maggie Whitaker (Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley HS) was 13^th among CCSA skiers (31^st overall) with a time of 36:44 and Mia Case (Minocqua, Wis./Lakeland Union HS) was 14^th (35^th overall) posting a time of 37:25.
 
Team Points
Northern Michigan University's Malin Boerjesjoe won the overall competition with a time of 31:37. However, it was Michigan Tech University taking first as a team on Saturday with 38 points, edging NMU's 37 points. The Saints were third with a point total of 21.
 
Up Next
Action resumes tomorrow (Sunday) at the Birkie Trailhead with the 5km freestyle beginning at 11:45 a.m.