PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – After a narrow miss at the bronze in the 10km classic two days earlier, St. Scholastica sophomore #Eleanor Magnuson# (So.-Champlin Park, Minn.) stepped onto the podium and into the medals, scoring a bronze in the 18-19 year old older junior category in Friday's 5km freestyle at the USSA Junior Olympics. The Junior Olympics serve as the age category Junior National Championships.

Corinne Prevot of the New England team and racing out of Middlebury College won the race in at time of 13:26.5 seconds. Magnuson was the second of a 2, 3, 4 finish for team Midwest. Teammate Corinne Malcolm (Montana State University), finished six-tenths out of the victory in second place with at time of 13:27.1 seconds.

Magnuson's time of 13:30.0 seconds left her just 3.5 seconds shy of a Junior National Championship title, while Lynn Duijndam finished in 13:33.4 seconds to jam the top four with three Midwest skiers. Magnuson's bronze medal is her first podium at the Junior Olympics, bettering her previous-best finish of fourth two days ago.

“It felt a little weird doing 5k skate," said Magnuson. "I'm used to doing 10ks now."

"I was pretty confident that Eleanor would be on the podium today, if not win the race out right,” said Saints head coach Chad Salmela. “The race was obviously very tight as 5k's usually are, so you have to find time every single place you can. To take a medal at a national championship is a special thing Eleanor will always remember. You can look forward at the 3.5 seconds to the national champion title, but just as easily you can look back to Lynn another 3.4 back, and you just have to be happy you're in the medals.”

Magnuson's bronze is the first U.S. National Championship medal of any kind for a Saints skier and was her final individual competition as a junior (age 19 and under) competitor. She will compete in the relay Saturday-presumably with Malcolm and Duijndam-in what can only be seen as a favorite to win along with Alaska. "I'm super excited for it," said Magnuson of the upcoming relay. “Another very real chance at a national championship title.”

Salmela believes the relay is a big opportunity for the Midwest to win a title, but Magnuson's week is already a success. “I think the Midwest OJ women have to be a huge favorite after today, but no matter what, the relay is just gravy for Eleanor," said Salmela. "The 5k was a great way for Eleanor to finish her junior career. She has a medal from the junior national championships. That will never change for her. It's a pretty big deal.”

USSA Junior Olympics
Older Junior Girls 5km Freestyle
Presque Isle, ME
3/12/10
1 PREVOT, Corinne Middlebury Ski Team NE 13:26.5
2 MALCOLM, Corrine Montana State Univ. MW 13:27.1
3 MAGNUSON, Eleanor St. Scholastica MW 13:30.0
4 DUIJNDAM, Lynn Finn Sisu Skiers MW 13:33.4
5 YEATON, Jessie Alaska Nordic Racing AK 13:44.4
6 RORABAUGH, Marisa Fairbanks FXC AK 13:45.7
7 MUCHA, Kailey Alaska Nordic Racing AK 13:51.8
8 GOODWIN, Liza Montana State Univ. IM 14:01.5
9 MCPHETRES, Alyson Alaska Nordic Racing AK 14:02.1
10 ATTWOOD, Emily Cape Nordic NE 14:06.5