McCALL, Idaho - Midway through the national championships, the University of Wyoming women's club Nordic skiing team is in contention to win its third straight United State Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association national championship.

The Cowgirls, who entered the four-event meet as the No. 1 team in the country, won Tuesday's 1.5-kilometer sprint and finished second in Wednesday's 15-kilometer freestyle race. They trail St. Olaf by one point.

The men were almost as good, finishing second in both races to St. Olaf.

And both teams did it battling the flu.

"Most of the team was barely well for the first race on Tuesday," said UW coach Christi Boggs, in a prepared release from the UW News Service. "With that said, we're doing amazingly well considering that last Wednesday we didn't think that we'd even think we'd have three men to race."

Kristen Boroff led the Cowgirls by winning the 15-kilometer race, and Erika Edgely added a second-place in Tuesday's sprint.

A pair of Lander skiers led the UW men. Riley Hopeman was third on Tuesday and Joe Howdyshell finished third on Wednesday.

Today is a rest day before Friday's 8.5-kilometer classic race and Saturday's team relay.

"They are all skiing amazingly well considering that some of them had fevers of 102 degrees just a few days ago," Boggs said. "The women are still in the hunt for the overall national championship and the men are hoping for a great showing in Friday's race."

UW results

Men

TEAM: 1. St. Olaf (Minn.) 28; 2. Wyoming 39.

1.5k SPRINT: 3. Riley Hopeman, Lander; 7. Joe Howdyshell, Lander; 11. Adam Alspach, Casper; 16. Josh Peterson, Lander; 22. Collin McRann, Lander; 28. Brian Sebade, Lander; 29. Ben Miller, Lander, 31.

15k FREESTYLE: 3. Joe Howdyshell, Lander; 4. Riley Hopeman, Lander; 12. Collin McRann, Lander; 17. Adam Alspach, Casper; 18. Josh Peterson, Lander; 26. Ben Miller, Lander; 33. Brian Sebade, Lander.

Women

TEAM: 1. St. Olaf (Minn.) 27; 2. Wyoming 28.

1.5k SPRINT: 2. Erika Edgley, Lake Placid, N.Y.; 3. Kristen Boroff, Pinedale; 6. Kari Boroff, Pinedale; 10. Christine Robinson, Casper; 12. Melissa Gangl, Casper; 13. Ava Bell, Laramie.

15k FREESTYLE: 1. Kristen Boroff, Pinedale; 6. Kari Boroff, Pinedale; 10. Erica Edgely, Lake Placid, N.Y; 11. Christine Robinson, Casper; 14. Melissa Gangl, Casper; 17. Ava Bell, Laramie.