STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - The Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team finished day one at the Colorado Invitational in fifth-place with 118 points. The women's team led the way with 69 points while the men's team posted 49. 

The women's team was led by Mariel Pulles who finished fifth-place in the 20k classical with a time of 1:11.00.0 earning 29 points for the Nanooks. She was followed by Kendall Kramer in eighth-place, finishing the race in 1:13:01.9, earning 23 points for the 'Nooks. Sarah Olson followed in 17th-place with a time of 1:18:44.2 for 17 points, Aila Berrigan took 19th with a time of 1:21:08.2 and Abigail Haas rounded out the race for the 'Nooks, placing 21st with a time of 1:245:19.9. 

In the men's 20k classical Christopher Kalev led the way for the 'Nooks with a sixth-place finish, crossing the finish line in 1:01:34.5 for 27 team points. Mike Ophoff joined him in the top-10 with a ninth-place finish and time of 1:02:30.5, earning the Nanooks 22 points. No other men's racers raced for Alaska. 

The teams compete tomorrow morning in the 5/10k freestyles. 

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks Nordic ski team, follow @NanookSkiing on Instagram, @NanooksSki on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.