Jordan Buetow (middle) is surrounded by celebrating Bates teammates after finishing fourth in the 1.5-kilometer sprint A Final at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Midway, Utah, on Jan. 5, 2014. (Photo provided by Becky Woods)

MIDWAY, Utah -- Bates College senior Jordan Buetow wasn't well-known nationally when he placed 10th at last year's U.S. Cross Country Championships in the 1.5-kilometer freestyle sprint. 

This year, Buetow picked it up a notch, snagging fourth place in the A Final of the same event and forcing observers to take notice of the Bobcats' two-time NCAA Championship participant.
Buetow (Fairbanks, Alaska) finished close behind the A Final race winner, eight-time national champion Torin Koos, who is considered a front-runner to compete at the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics. 

"Jordan had an amazing day," said Bates head Nordic ski coach Becky Woods, who had the pleasure of seeing two of her protege competing at the event. "This was a huge improvement, especially given the group of skiers competing because it's an Olympic year."

There was a distinct Bates flavor to the proceedings: former Bates great and current U.S. Olympic team hopeful Sylvan Ellefson '09, meanwhile, made the B Final and settled for 11th place overall, a day after faring much better (fourth place) in the 15K classic race. "(Ellefson) had hoped to get to the A Final, but it just didn't go his way," said Woods. "He did have a great race on Saturday. His chances of being named to the team are still up in the air. We're keeping our fingers crossed."

FasterSkier.com covered the U.S. Championships and hailed Buetow as one of three "up-and-comers" on the national scene. The website notes that Buetow's opportunities to sprint-race are somewhat limited on the collegiate winter carnival circuit, leaning more on long-distance races.

"I've been focusing on this A-Final in the skate sprint for several years now," he told FasterSkier. "The last four years I've gradually improved every year. I just wanted to have fun today. And it turned out well!"

Buetow and the Bates Nordic team open the Eastern Intercollegiate Skiing Association carnival season Jan. 17-18 at the Colby Carnival.