HOUGHTON, MI - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nordic ski teams lead the men's, women's and overall standings after Saturday's Classic race at the 2006 Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) Championships, hosted by Michigan Technological University.
UAF got runner-up performances from senior
Pavla Havlova (Jince, Czech Republic) and sophomore
Marius Korthauer (Bonndorf, Germany) as both the men's and women's teams earned 73 points apiece and lead conference rival Northern Michigan University in the overall standings by 10 points, 146-136 heading into Sunday's freestyle skate races. The women's team placed four skiers in the top-10 while the men's team placed three skiers in the top-six positions.
Competing in the 5km Classic on the Tech Trails, Havlova finished the course in 18:35.6, just 5.5 seconds behind race winner Kristina Owen from Michigan Tech (18:30.1). Havlova was ranked third in the CCSA heading into this weekend's races.
Senior
Johanna Turunen (Joensuu, Finland), the top-ranked female skier in the CCSA, finished fourth overall with a time of 18:45.0. Freshman
Aurelia Korthauer (Bonndorf, Germany), one of three Nanook freshman on the bubble to qualify for the NCAA's finished sixth overall (19:59.8).
Freshman
Julia Coulter (Traverse City, MI) finished in eighth place (19:06.1) followed 30 seconds later by freshman
Elisabeth Habermann (Soldotna, AK) in 13th (19:36.7).
Competing in the 10km classic, Korthauer (32:16.8) finished 28.3 seconds second behind Northern Michigan University's Bryan Cook (31:48.5). Cook and Korthauer were ranked No. 1 and 2 in the CCSA standings heading into the race. Cook has already qualified for the NCAA Championships by qualifying for the men's Under-23 World Junior Championships, leaving five spots
Senior
Erik Wickstrom (Boras, Sweden) finished fourth overall (32:49.9) and junior
Bart Dengel (Valdez, AK) finished sixth overall (32:53.5). Wickstrom was ranked fifth and Dengel fourth in the CCSA standings heading into the regional championships.
Senior
Jonas Tetlie (Kabelvaag, Norway) finished 12 overall (33:59.3) and senior
Harald Aas (Eidsvoll, Norway) finished 22nd (35:21.9).
Aside from the team competition, skiers are still competing for a select number of spots granted to the CCSA for the NCAA Championships March 8-11 in Steamboat Springs, CO.
The CCSA was granted seven spots for the women, however two of those spots have already be awarded. Northern Michigan's Lindsey Weier claimed the first spot in the NCAA Championships by the fact that she qualified and is competing in Torino, Italy for the 2006 Winter Olympics. The second spot was awarded to Owen, who qualified for the Under-23 World Junior Championships earlier this season. Team may send more than six skiers (three male, three female) to the NCAA Championships.
The women's ski team will look to win its first CCSA Regional Championship and the men will be looking for its second championship. The men's team and the Nanooks took the overall championship in 2004.
On Sunday, the men will ski a 15km freestyle race beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and the women will compete in a 10k freestyle starting at 10:30 a.m. (EST).
Women's Team Scores
1. Alaska Fairbanks - 73
2. Northern Michigan - 68
3. Gustavus Adolphus - 55
4. Michigan Tech - 52
5. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 44
6. St. Olaf - 38
7. St. Benedict - 22
8. St. Cloud - 20
9. Finlandia - 6
Men's Team Scores
1. Alaska Fairbanks - 73
2. Northern Michigan - 68
3. Michigan Tech - 56
4. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 45
5. St. Olaf - 44
6. Gustavus Adolphus - 41
7. St. John's - 26
8. Macalester - 15
9. Finlandia - 9
Overall Team Scores
1. Alaska Fairbanks - 146
2. Northern Michigan - 136
3. Michigan Tech - 108
4. Gustavus Adolphus - 96
5. UW-Green Bay - 89
6. St. Olaf - 82
7. St. John's - 26
8. St. Benedict - 22
9. Finlandia - 15
10. Macalester - 15
- UAF SKIING -
