FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team wrapped-up their first trip to Midway, Utah on Monday, Jan. 18. They grabbed fifth place as a team, finishing with 218 placement points. They beat out Denver (203) and finished 44 points behind fourth place Montana State. 
 
Mariel Pulles, once again, led the way for the Nanooks in the women's 15k classic race, finishing 12^th overall and ninth in the women's college ranks. She posted a 42:48.8 race time. Kendall Kramer followed up as the second finishing Nanook racer with a time of 44:08.1. This placed her 24^th overall and 14^th in the women's college ranks. Catherine Reed-Metayer (32^nd/20^th, 46:57.7) and Rya Berrigan (35^th/22^nd, 47:24.4) were the next two Alaska racers to end their Utah-trip.
 
The final finisher for the 'Nooks was Sage Robine who grabbed a 49^th overall finish with a time of 53:59.4. This was good enough for 29^th in the women's college ranks. The women's team picked up a total of 116 team points.
 
The men's team raced in a 20k classic race. Mike Ophoff was the top-finisher, grabbing a 16^th place finish overall and 11^th in the men's college ranks with a time of 55:21.5. Christopher Kalev was the second men's finisher, cracking the top-20 in the men's college ranks at 18^th and placing 27^th overall after racing to a time of 57:20.3. Logan Mowry (35^th/21^st, 59:16.1) and Lukash Platil (39^th/23^rd, 59:41.8) were the last 'Nooks to crack the hour-mark as Patrick Marbacher rounded out the finishers in 56^th overall and 26^th in the men's college ranks with a time of 1:04:50.3.
 
The men's team finished the weekend with 102 total team points.
 
Both the men's and women's teams will be back in action on Feb. 21-22 in Midway, Utah for the Montana State Invite, hosted by Utah at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center.
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team, follow @UAFXC on Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.