HOUGHTON, MI - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nordic ski team captured the men's, women's and overall team championships at the 2006 Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) Championships at the Tech Trails on Sunday. In addition, the Nanooks qualified five skiers for the 2006 NCAA Championships, March 8-11 in Steamboat Springs, CO.
Sophomore
Marius Korthauer (Bonndorf, Germany) claimed the men's regional championship in the 15km freestyle skate race, finishing first overall with a time of 41:37.3 and qualified for the NCAA Championships as the top-ranked skier in the CCSA.
Also qualifying for the national championships are seniors
Pavla Havlova (Jince, Czech Republic) and
Johanna Turunen (Joensuu, Finland) from the women's game and senior
Erik Wickstrom (Boras, Sweden) and junior
Bart Dengel (Valdez, AK) from the men's team.
Following Korthauer in the men's race was Wickstrom (42:39.2) and Dengel (42:47.3) in third and fourth place, respectively.
Rounding out the field for the Nanooks were seniors
Jonas Tetlie (Kabelvaag, Norway) and
Harald Aas (Eidsvoll, Norway). Skiing in their final race with the blue & gold, Tetlie finished sixth (42:58.5) and Aas finished 21st (45:57.1)
In the women's 10km freestyle mass start, Turunen finished second to Northern Michigan's Tami Kochen by 2.7 seconds, finishing the course in 30:24.2. Havlova finished fourth (32:08.1), followed by freshman
Julia Coulter (Traverse City, MI) in fifth (32:17.1).
Freshman
Elisabeth Habermann (Soldotna, AK) (33:37.6) and
Aurelia Korthauer (Bonndorf, Germany) finished 10th and 13th, respectively.
The CCSA was granted seven spots for the women's championship and Coulter, ranked eighth in the CCSA, was named the first alternate should one of the seven female athletes pull out of competition.
For UAF head coach
Scott Jerome, this is his first regional championship as a head coach, however the feeling was bittersweet.
"I am very happy about the way we performed and winning the championship, but I would have loved to take a full team to the NCAA's," said Jerome. "I feel so disappointed for Julia because she raced so well this weekend but could not over come the skiers in front of her."
"On the bright side, she is only a freshman and has three more years ahead of her to qualify," said Jerome.
The championship was the second CCSA championship for UAF. The Nanooks claimed the men's title and the overall team title in 2004. This is the first CCSA championship for the women's team.
Jerome was also grateful for his assistant coach,
Ingrid Olson. "Ingrid did a fantastic job this weekend. She stepped up to every challenge I gave her and we had everything from great skis to great wax. I'm just so pleased."
The five skiers UAF qualified are the most in the CCSA. Jerome, Olson and the five members of the Nanook ski team will be joined by three members of the Northern Michigan, two members of Michigan Tech and one member of the Saint Olaf squad at the NCAA Championships.
Sunday's Skate Results:
Women's 10km Freestyle - Mass Start
1. Tami Kochen, NMU - 30:21.5
2. Johanna Turunen, UAF - 30:24.2
4. Pavla Havlova, UAF - 32:08.1
5. Julia Coulter, UAF - 32:17.7
10.
Elisabeth Habermann, UAF - 33:37.6
13. Aurelia Korthauer, UAF - 34:39.4
Men's 15km Freestyle - Mass Start
1.
Marius Korthauer, UAF - 41:37.3
3. Erik Wickstrom, UAF - 42:39.2
4.
Bart Dengel, UAF - 42:47.3
6. Jonas Tetlie, UAF - 42:58.5
21. Harald Aas, UAF - 45:57.1
Women's Team Scores
1. Alaska Fairbanks - 73
2. Northern Michigan - 69
Men's Team Scores
1. Alaska Fairbanks - 76
2. Northern Michigan - 68
Overall Team Scores
1. Alaska Fairbanks - 149
2. Northern Michigan - 136
3. Michigan Tech - 131
- UAF SKIING -
