March 30, 2008
Complete Results from 30/50K races
Complete Results from Friday's 15/30K Skiathlon
FAIRBANKS, AK- While their collegiate skiing season may have wrapped up nearly three weeks ago, the Alaska Nanooks' 2008 season officially ended on Sunday, as the skiers took part in the U.S. Cross Country Distance Championships at the Jim Whisenhant Ski Trails at the Birch Hill Recreation Area.
Competing against the nation's finest skiers, including U.S. Ski Team members Kris Freeman and Torin Koos, Marius Korthauer turned in the Nanooks' top performance, grabbing seventh place in the 50K marathon. Finishing in a time of 2:39:04.7, Korthauer needed a late charge to rescue a top-ten finish after to falling to 14th in the sixth of seven laps. An excellent final lap sprung the NCAA champion above Freeman and Alaska teammate Vahur Teppan as Korthauer finished just under six and a half minutes behind overall winner Ivan Babikov.
The race marked the second strong performance of the weekend for Korthauer, as the senior took home third place in the men's 30K pursuit on Friday.
Teppan, also a two-time All-American at this year's NCAA Championships, took 11th place overall, just missing out on a place in the top ten after finishing just 13 seconds behind Northern Michigan's Zach Violett.
Alaska's Einar Often took home 18th place in the event: a promising sign for next year from the Nanook sophomore. Freshman Ray Sabo also took 31st, finishing in a time of 2:53:49.9.
On the women's side, Anna Coulter paced the Blue and Gold in the 30K event, taking 13th place with a time of 1:48:10, finishing just over a minute ahead of Alaska assistant coach Ingrid Olson in 14th place. Julia Coulter, a redshirt for the Nanooks this season, took 15th, while senior Krynn Finstad came in 18th with a time just over two hours.
