LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – The St. Olaf College women's alpine skiing team began the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) National Championships with a third-place finish in the giant slalom on Tuesday at Whiteface Mountain.

Led by All-America performances from senior Merumo Ishimaru and junior Kate Young, St. Olaf finished third in the 24-team field with a time of 7:19.92 from its top-three finishers. Rocky Mountain College won the team title by over 20 seconds with a time of 6:54.27, followed by Northern Michigan University in second in 7:15.92.

Ishimaru and Young both earned their first USCSA All-America accolades by placing in the top 15, with both collecting second-team honors. Ishimaru clocked in with the ninth-fastest first run (1:12.33) and remained in that spot after the second run to post a combined time of 2:24.31. Young was seventh after the first run (1:12.04) and secured the final All-America position in 15th (2:26.92) after run two.

Sophomore Winter Johnson provided St. Olaf's third scoring time in 21st (2:28.69), rising one spot after posting the 15th-fastest time (1:13.18) in the second run. The Oles' third-place finish was the program's best finish in the giant slalom since also placing third in 2015.

The USCSA National Championships continue with the men's giant slalom on Wednesday, March 6. The women are back on the slopes for the slalom on Thursday, March 7.