Results

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks men's and women's Nordic ski teams participated in the final day of racing at the 2019 Montana State University Invitational on Saturday morning, competing in the 15/20km mass-start, classic race at the Crosscut Mountain Sports Center. The results from the 2019 MSU Invite will count toward the overall Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association standings.

Following the two-day event, Alaska finished sixth in the combined Nordic standings with 199 points. The Nanooks finished fourth in the women's Nordic standings with 113 points, while the Alaska men ranked sixth with 86 points.

"Our athletes are finally getting into their speed, mostly getting used to the altitude," Alaska assistant coach Eliska Albrigtsen said on Saturday. "Kati is in great shape, finishing fourth and third, respectively here in Montana. Racing here was tricky with new snow, strong gusts and temperatures around 34 degrees Fahrenheit. We are looking forward to a week and half at home after a long trip before going to race in New Mexico."

Senior Kati Roivas was the highest-ranking Alaska skier of the day, placing third overall with a time of 53:05.0. Roivas received 34 points in the women's 15km classic race, which featured 30 RMISA women.

Colorado University's Hedda Baangman was the fastest female skier on the day, posting a time of 52:21.0 for 40 points.

Sophomore Anja Maijala was the second Alaska skier to cross the finish line on Saturday, placing 23rd overall with a time of 59:33.0 for 12 points. Rounding-out the top-three times was sophomore Hannah Dueling, who placed 26th overall with a time of 1:00:50.0 for 11 points.

Freshman Maggie Meeds and Sage Robine were the only other Alaska skiers to compete on Saturday, producing times of 1:02:54.0 and 1:03:56.0, respectively.

In the men's 20km mass-start, classic race, redshirt-junior Lukash Platil was the first Alaska skier to cross the finish line, placing 22nd overall with a time of 1:08:03.0 for 13 points.

New Mexico's Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier was the fastest skier in the men's race on Saturday, posting a time of 1:00:06.0 for 40 points.

Following Platil, senior Arnaud Guyon placed second among his teammates and 24th overall with a time of 1:08:22.0 for 12 points. Redshirt-senior Seiji Takagi followed closely behind, ranking 26th overall with a 1:08:49.0 for 11 points.

Closing out Alaska's top-five men was senior Tristan Sayre (1:10:21.0) and redshirt-freshman Logan Mowry (1:11:10.0).

The Alaska Nanooks men's and women's Nordic ski teams will return home for a quick break before heading to Red River, New Mexico to compete in the UNM Invite Saturday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 3 at the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks men's and women's Nordic ski teams, follow @AlaskaNanooksXC on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.