The Gustavus women’s nordic skiing team competed in the second NCAA qualifier of the season on Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23. The races took place in Grand Rapids, Minn. at Mt. Itasca. The Gusties compiled a total of 85 points to finish fourth out of eight teams. Northern Michigan University won the competition with 135 points.
On Saturday, four Gusties finished in the top twenty helping the team to a fourth place finish overall with 41 points. Junior Chandra Daw led the way for Gustavus by placing 12th overall with a time of 37:38.31. First-year Laura Edlund placed 13th overall just six seconds behind Daw with a time of 37:44.33. Senior Kelly Damrow and first-year Kathleen Dewahl rounded out the top twenty. Damrow placed 19th with a time of 39:18.50, while Dewahl placed 20th with a time of 39:58.22.
Coach Jed Friedrich’s squad placed third in the classic race with 44 points, finishing ahead of Division I program University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sunday. First-year Laura Edlund cracked the top ten for the first time of her collegiate career. Edlund placed tenth overall with a time of 17:25.41 to earn valuable points for the Gusties. Senior Kelly Damrow placed second on the team and 13th overall with a time of 17:39.41.
Gustavus will return to action next weekend in the third NCAA qualifier of the season held in Cable, Wis.