Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - The struggles continued Saturday (March 13) for the Michigan Tech ski team at the 2010 NCAA Skiing Championships. Senior Oskar Lund finished 33rd in the men’s 20-kilometer freestyle and fellow senior Henna Riikonen-Purtsi did not finish the women’s 15-kilometer race.

Lund skied himself into a good position from the start but could not keep up with the leaders as the tempo increased midway through the third of four laps. He finished with a time of 52:11.

Riikonen-Purtsi battled altitude related issues for most of the race before dropping out of the race after two of three laps.

“Both of these athletes are tremendously hard workers but both were heavily effected by racing at altitude for the first time in their careers,” said head coach Joe Haggenmiller. “I feel bad for both of them as this is the last race of their college careers. I can not thank them enough for what they have done to elevate the stature of our program. They both will be sorely missed as the team moves on with out them next year.”

Franz Berstein of Vermont won the men’s race in 49:19 and Denver’s Antje Maempel won the women’s race in 41:03.

Tech finished 19th with 30 points.