GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Edward Little sophomore Ellis Slover turned in fast times when it mattered most in Wednesday’s classic sprint portion of the Junior National Cross-Country Ski Championships that are taking place outside of Minneapolis this week.

Slover placed third in the A Final in the boys under-16 division with a time of 3:14.75. Winner Murphy Kimball crossed the finish line in a time of 3:06.03.

Slover was 11th fastest in the qualifier with a time of 3:19.40, but sped up to a 3:15.24 trek around the 1.3-kilomter course in the quarterfinals, which was second-fastest in his heat. He was third-fastest in his semifinal heat, and his time of 3:13.77 was quick enough to advance him to the A Final.

Quarry Road Ski Club teammate Emma Charles, a Mt. Blue senior, was 29th in the girls u18 qualifier in a time of 3:49.09, but she bowed out in the quarterfinal round after finishing fifth in her heat.

Quarry Road member Caden Cote, from Messalonskee, made it to the boys u18 quarterfinal round, while Gould Academy competitor Nate Livingood was 39th in the qualifier and didn’t advance to the quarterfinals.

The championships continue Friday with the classic mass start races.