HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Nanooks Nordic ski team competed at day two of the U.S. National Championships on Friday, Jan. 3. The second day competition was the freestyle individual start with the men racing 15km and the women racing 10km. 
 
In the men's category, the Nanooks had three racers finish in the top 90. Mike Ophoff led the way for Alaska finishing 50^th overall in the men's race. He was ranked 18^th in the men's U23 category as well after a time of 40:04.3. The next Nanooks racer to cross the line was Lukash Platil. Overall, Platil finished 80^th, but in the men's senior category, Platil ranked 27^th with a time of 41:10.3.
 
The final men's racer was Christopher Kalev. Kalev Was just behind Platil finishing 90^th with a time of 41:46.3. In the men's U23 category, Kalev finished 30^th.
 
In the women's race, four Nanooks pushed across the finish line in their respective categories. Mariel Pulles was the leading 'Nook in the women's 10km freestyle. She finished 44^th overall and 16^th in the female U23 category with a time of 30:58.7. Just behind her at 49^th overall was Anja Maijala. She finished 20^th in the U23 category and raced a time of 31:11.3. 
 
The final racers were Sarah Olson and Catherine Reed-Metayer. Olson, who competed in the U20 category, cracked the top-100 with a time of 32:49.8 and grabbed a 22^nd ranking in the U20 category. Reed-Metayer was the final finisher for Alaska as she finished 102^nd overall and 38^th in the U23 category with a time of 32:58.0. 
 
The Nanooks will stay in Houghton and enjoy a day off. They will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 5 for the Classic Mass Start and then the Classic Sprint on Tuesday, Jan. 7. 
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team, follow @AlaskaNanooksXC on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.