Alev, Clark, Stinson Named UCHealth CU Athletes Of The Week

BOULDER - Alvar Alev was named one of the UCHealth CU Athletes of the week after his performance in men's Nordic at the DU Invitational, while Erin Clark and Miranda Stinson shared the honor on the women's side for their performances in track and field and lacrosse.

Freshman Alvar Alev swept both of the Nordic races at the DU Invitational held at Maloit Park Trails in Minturn, Colo., last weekend. They were the first two race wins on the men's Nordic team this winter and helped lead the Buffs to the DU Invite team victory. He won the 10K freestyle race on Saturday by 11.5 seconds and took Sunday's 10K classic race by 6.9 seconds. His two wins marked the first time since Mads Stroem in 2016 that a men's Nordic skier swept both races at a meet and he became the first freshman to win a race since Stroem did so in his rookie year during the 2014 season.

Senior distance runner Erin Clark clocked a 15:37.64 time in the 5,000 meters at the Husky Classic. This time now ranks second all-time for CU only behind Jenny (Barringer) Simpson and it is the top time in the MPSF conference. Clark is continuing to move her name up the Colorado record book. She ran an impressive 5,000-meter race Friday night clocking a PR time of 15:37.64 to finish third overall. She finished behind two Olympians in Emily Infeld and Gwen Jorgensen. Her time of 15:37.64 is now the second-fastest indoor 5K run by a CU woman as Barringer owns the school record at 15:01.70. This time not only puts Clark atop the MPSF conference standings but it is also currently the fourth fastest time in the country.

Miranda Stinson led the No. 17 Buffs women's lacrosse team to a 1-1 weekend as they opened the 2018 season. In the season opener against Michigan on Friday, the junior recorded a school record seven goals, breaking the former record of five, which had been done 14 times in school history. Stinson converted on 3-3 free-position attempts. She also added an assist for eight total points and tallied four draw controls and two ground balls. On Sunday in a 16-9 loss to No. 5 Florida, Stinson recorded one goal, three ground balls and one draw control. Over the weekend, she led the Buffs with nine points (eight goals and one assist).

Also nominated this week: Ben Saarel (Men's Track and Field), McKinley Wright IV (Men's Basketball), Anne Siri Lervik (Women's Nordic), Chloe Hule (Women's Tennis)

Senior Ben Saarel clocked a 7:50.93 time in the 3,000 meters Saturday at the Husky Classic. This time is now ninth overall in the NCAA and third in the MPSF conference. Saarel finished fifth in the 3,000 meters with an impressive PR time of 7:50.93. His time is now second all-time for CU coming behind Adam Goucher's indoor school record time of 7:46.03 time from 1998. Saarel's previous best time of 7:52.61 was seventh all-time.

Mckinley Wright IV, a freshman, averaged 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists leading Colorado to a home sweep of California and Stanford last week. Wright had a game-high 17 points with six rebounds and five assists against California. He recorded career and team-season highs with 11 free throws on 14 attempts against the Bears. Wright had 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the win over Stanford. He recorded his ninth game with at least seven assists and moved his season total to 135, the third most in a freshman season by a Buffalo in team history. His six rebounds in both games matched his personal best in a conference contest.

Sophomore Anne Siri Lervik was CU's top scorer on the women's Nordic team at the DU Invite and for her efforts she earned RMISA Skier of the Week honors. Lervik was fourth in Saturday's 5K freestyle skate and placed third in Sunday's 5K classic. That was her second podium finish of the year and she now has finished fifth or better in six consecutive races. Lervik's efforts helped the CU women win both races over the weekend and take the team overall title.

Sophomore Chloe Hule went undefeated in both doubles and singles play over the weekend. In the Buffs' 7-0 win over Sacramento State, the doubles pairing of Hule and junior Brigitte Beck clinched the doubles point by defeating the Hornets' Maria Gonzalez and Jenna Dorian, 6-1. While in singles play, Hule defeated Sofi Wicker 6-0, 6-2. Hule again was instrumental in CU's 4-3 win over Boise State as the doubles pairing of Hule and Beck sailed through their doubles match in the No. 2 spot winning 6-3 over Boise State's Anja Dokic and Wiktoria Nosek. In singles play, Hule clinched the No. 2 singles match taking the 7-6, 6-2 victory over the Broncos' Wilhelmina Poling to put the Buffs up on the scoreboard 2-1. For the season, Hule remains undefeated in doubles play.

Alev, Clark, Stinson Named UCHealth CU Athletes Of The Week

Players Mentioned

Alvar Alev

Erin Clark

Anne Siri Lervik

Ben Saarel

Miranda Stinson

Mads Stroem

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