SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah (csssaints.com) -- St. Scholastica senior Sarah Allen (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS (Northern Michigan)) posted her first career top 10 Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) finish Sunday in the women's 20km mass start classic race in Soldier Hollow, Utah. 

The event was part of the U.S. National Championships and doubled as the second NCAA Central Division NCAA Championship qualifying event. Allen finished in 1:17:35.5, good for 50th overall.  The U.S. Ski Team's Sadie Bjornsen won in a time of 1:05:39.2.

Rosie Frankowski of Northern Michigan University took top honors in the CCSA field, finishing 10th overall in 1:09:34.3.  Teammate Mary Kate Cirelli finished second for the Wildcats in 1:10:36.6.  Alaska Fairbanks' Heather Edic rounded out the CCSA podium in third with at time of 1:12:18.2.

"It was a very difficult 20km, and I think Sarah learned a lot from the experience today and the week on the whole," said Saints head coach Chad Salmela.  "I was happy with her effort."

Sophomore Sharmila Ahmed (Savage, Minn./Burnsville HS) competed in the final junior world championship trials race, a 5km mass start freestyle that was not part of the CCSA event.  After charging the final hill and into the top 15, Ahmed struggled home to finish 26th in the junior field in a time of 16:49.4.  The race was won by Stratton Mountain School's, Katherine Ogden in a time of 15:55.2.

The Saints take a break from competition until NCAA qualification and conference racing resumes at Battle Creek in St. Paul, January 19th and 20th.

CCSA Women's 20km Classic
1.  Rosie Frankowski   NMU   1:09:34.3
2.  Mary Kate Cirelli   NMU  1:10:36.6
3.  Heather Edic   UAF   1:12:18.2
4.  Crystal Pitney  UAF   1:12:54.0
5.  Jordyn Ross   NMU   1:13:06.7
6.  Sarah Daniels   MTU   1:13:59.8
7.  Marit Rjabov   UAF   1:14:10.5
8.  Rachel Mason   MTU   1:14:57.0
9.  Teresia Schnurr   UAF   1:15:57.8
10.  Sarah Allen (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS (Northern Michigan))   CSS   1:17:35.5