The Gustavus Adolphus Nordic Skiing team took a break from Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) competition Sunday when it participated in the Capitol Square Sprints in Madison, Wis.
Kelly Chaudoin (So., Ely, Minn.) brought home the best Gustavus finish by placing third in the women’s Olympic Juniors division. Chaudoin qualified fourth with a time of 3:18.48 and advanced to the first semifinal, where she finished second in her heat to eventual winner Christina Gillis, but still transferred to the A Final, where she placed third.
Also competing in the women’s Olympic Juniors division was Kathryn Ladig (So., Bemidji, Minn.). Ladig qualified seventh with a time of 3:34.05 and advanced to the second semifinal. She placed fourth in her semifinal heat and advanced to the B Final, where she placed second for a sixth-place finish overall.
Two Gustavus men competed in the Olympic Juniors division. Elias Anoszko (Jr., Dousman, Wis.) qualified seventh with a time of 2:50.40 and advance to the semifinals, while Michael Paulson (Fy., Bloomington, Minn.) qualified 11th with a time of 2:56.38. Only the top eight in each division advanced to the semifinals. In his semifinal heat, Anoszko finished third and was relegated to the B Final, where he bested former Gustie Justin Young, now competing for NordicWerks, but could not top Michael McMahon of UW-Green Bay, finishing second in the final and sixth overall.
A trio of Gustie skiers competed in the women’s SuperTour divison, a field comprised of mostly touring professionals. Sarah Willis (Jr., Willmar, Minn.) qualified seventh with a time of 3:04.57 to advance to the semifinals, while Laura Edlund (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) and Kathleen DeWahl (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.) each saw their bid for the semifinals come up short. Edlund qualified 11th with a time of 3:10.85, while DeWahl posted a 12th-place clocking of 3:15.64. Willis placed fourth in her semifinal heat to move into the B Final, where she finished third for seventh place overall.
The Gusties return to competition Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 20-21 with a Central Collegiate Ski Association/NCAA Qualifier at Coleraine, Minn.