Korthauer and Teppan team up to take fourth in relay sprint

Submitted by Tom Myrick
Phone: 907-474-6805
01/06/08

Alaska’s senior team of Marius Korthauer and Vahur Teppan both closed out excellent performances this week at the U.S. Cross Country Championships by teaming up to place fourth in the team relay classic sprint on Sunday. The two Nanooks completed three laps apiece around the 1.3 km course in 18:09.37, making them the top collegiate skiing team, as they were bested only by two teams of U.S. national team members (including event winners Torin Koos and Andy Newell, who finished one-two in yesterday’s freestyle sprints) and a Factory Team combination.

The results marks the third top-ten finish of the Senior Nationals for Korthauer, and the second top-five finish in as many days for Teppan, who also placed third in the individual freestyle sprint event.

Alaska’s team of Andy Schnitzer and John Parry just missed out on a place in the finals themselves, placing sixth in their semifinal heat with a solid time of 19:47.26. The Nanooks’ all-freshman team of Robert Pakk and Zach McGill placed eighth in their respective heat, while Ray Sabo and Einar Often placed 11th.

The Nanook women also qualified a team for the final heat as Aurelia Korthauer and Julia Coulter combined to finish 12th in the women’s team sprints. The duo finished their six laps for a time of 23:37.43 in the finals.

The two other Blue and Gold teams both bowed out at the semifinal stage. Anna Coulter and Krynn Finstad finished seventh in their heat, while the pairing of Tamra Kornfield and Beth Zirbes were unable to finish.

With the first of their four NCAA qualifiers under their belt, the Nanooks now get nearly two weeks off to regroup before heading to Coleraine, Minnesota for the Mt. Itasca Supertour: an event that the Nanooks fared well at last season, grabbing 10 top-15 finishes and two podiums over the two events. The Mt. Itasca Supertour runs from Jan. 19-20.