MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – St. Scholastica sophomore #Eleanor Magnuson# (So.-Champlin Park, Minn.) was not satisfied with her performance at last week's Minnesota College Championships and attacked the 5km course with a vengeance. The result was an 11th place finish in Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) action Saturday at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.

With a fast course in rainy conditions, seconds were precious as Alaska Fairbanks' Aurelia Korthauer finished in 12:54.7 seconds, edging Northern Michigan's Christina Gillis by 2.6 seconds for the victory. NMU's Marie Helen Soderman finished third in 13:21.8 seconds. Magnuson finished just 13.6 seconds behind Soderman-less than the time between Gillis and Soderman from second to third-yet those seconds cost her eight places, also missing the top 10 by only 2.2 seconds and ninth by 2.8 seconds.

CSS junior #Julia Curry# (Jr.-Woodbury, Minn.) finished 19th in a time of 14:17.7 seconds and senior #Megan Holmes# (Sr.-Gilbert, Minn./Mesabi East) finished 39th in 15:23.6 seconds to round out the Saints scoring. The Saints finished fifth in the team standings. Northern Michigan won.

“Eleanor's race was top-notch,” said Saints head coach Chad Salmela. “Looking at the placing doesn't put her race into context. You have to look at the time out of the top three, and that was pretty impressive. It's a bummer to go 11th when you're within 15 seconds of third, but that's racing. Every second counted today. The key is she's so close to the top three that her points in the NCAA rankings for today will be really good.”

The Saints continue competition Sunday at Theodore Wirth Park Sunday with the 10km mass start classic.

CCSA NCAA Qualifier 10km Freestyle
Mayor's Challenge Supertour
Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis
1/23/10


1. KORTHAUER, Aurelia SR/MA UAF 0:12:54.7
2. GILLIS, Christina SR/MA NMU 0:12:57.3
3. SODERMAN, Marie Helen SR/MA NMU 0:13:21.8
4. FREEMAN, Carolyn SR/MA UWGB 0:13:23.6
5. RIIKONEN-PURTS, Henna SR/MA MTU 0:13:23.8
6. PIERSON, Julia SR/MA UAF 0:13:24.8
7. DEWITT, Laura SR/MA NMU 0:13:27.5
8. MARKVARDSEN, Monica OJ NMU 0:13:29.1
9. SCHNURR, Theresia SR/MA UAF 0:13:32.6
10. COULTER, Anna SR/MA UAF 0:13:33.2
11. MAGNUSSON, Eleanor OJ CSS 0:13:35.4
19. CURRY, Julia SR/MA CSS 0:14:17.7
39. HOLMES, Megan SR/MA CSS 0:15:23.6
50. JOHNSON, Lindsey OJ CSS 0:16:09.6
51. LUND, Caroline SR/MA CSS 0:16:16.5
55. KALLEMEYN, Mary SR/MA CSS 0:16:45.5
58. JOHNSON, Sarah OJ CSS 0:16:53.6

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS
1 NMU 72
2 UAF 66
3 MTU 56
4 UWGB 42
5 CSS 38
6 CSB 32
7 GAC 30
8 SCSU 28
9 STO 11