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

Seniors Jessica Stanton and Winter Johnson led St. Olaf to the sixth-place finish with top-20 individual performances, highlighted by Stanton earning Second Team All-America accolades in the process in 16th (2:19.32). Johnson was four-tenths of a second behind Stanton over the two runs to place 19th (2:19.72).

Competing with temperatures in the low 50s, first year Eloise Backer was the only other Ole to finish both runs and finished 54th (2:33.91).

After the men's giant slalom on Wednesday, March 11, the women will be back for the slalom on Thursday, March 12.