Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Utah Invitational (FS)
SKIERS FINISH FOURTH IN UTAH
January 24, 2004 | Skiing
SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah ? The University of Colorado ski team finished Saturday in the Utah Invitational where it started 14 days ago, in fourth place, as the Buffalo nordic teams battled absence, sickness and injury but still managed to hold its own as the meet came to a close.
New Mexico hung on for the team victory, as the Lobos amassed 570 points to edge charging Utah by seven; the defending NCAA champion Utes entered the final two events in third place and 17 points back of UNM. Denver slipped to third with 523 points, with a depleted CU squad finishing fourth (457.5) and Alaska-Anchorage (411.5). The alpine portion of this meet had been held in conjunction with the Utah State Games earlier in the month.
In the men's 15K freestyle race, Utah's Daniel Sonntag posted a 40:55.1 time on Soldier Hollow's Olympic course that was good for over a 9-second win over Denver's Erlend Hoff. CU sophomore Erling Christiansen, who is dealing with some mild back trouble, skied to a fourth place finish in 41:18.3 after registering a 13th place showing in Friday's classical race. CU sophomore Henrik Hoye, who was sixth in the classic race, was a bit under the weather and did not ski Saturday, while freshman Tim Damrow, who will compete in the World Junior Championships in February, skied just two laps around the course before pulling out after feeling ill as well. Senior Josh Smullin posted his best finish this year (12th, in 42:51.5), the fourth best finish of his collegiate career, with soph Nick Sterling skiing a solid race in grabbing 20th in 44:32.9. CU's top male nordic skier this year, junior Tor Erik Schjellerud, missed this competition as he is in his native Norway competing in the Norwegian National Championships.
The women's 10k followed and had quite the finish, as with 200 yards left nothing was settled; including a pair of independent skiers, only 19 seconds separated the top 10 finishers. But the sprint for first place came down to Alaska's Sarah Hansen and Colorado's Jana Rehemaa; the pair were side-by-side in the final 100 yards. Rehemaa made a move to the outside to try and get into a better track, but in the end, Hansen edged out the Buff junior by 1.6 seconds in posting a winning time of 32:39.5. Senior Claire Critchley finished 13th for the second straight day (33:19.8), while junior Muriele Huberli was 15th in 33:38.6; sophomore Brooke Rygg also did not ski due to illness.
“We had some bright spots,” said CU nordic coach Bruce Cranmer. “Erling had his best finish of the season and Jana tied hers, but team-wise, we were weakened a bit with Tor over in Norway and some of the kids dealing with sickness. We have some things to build on, and we look to get stronger as we go along.”
Skiing action in the NCAA West will resume in two weekends in Taos and Red River, N.M., as the New Mexico Invitational is next on the schedule, set for February 6-7.
Utah Invitational Team Scores?1. New Mexico 570; 2. Utah 563; 3. Denver 523; 4. Colorado 457.5; 5. Alaska-Anchorage 411.5; 6. Nevada 317; 7. Montana State 292.5; 8. Western State 222.5; 9. Whitman 177; 10. Boise State 106.5.
Men's 10K Classical?1. Daniel Sonntag, Utah, 40:55.1; 2. Erlend Hoff, DU, 41:04.5; 3. Henning Dybendal, Utah, 41:17.2; 4. Erling Christiansen, CU, 41:18.3; 5. Jan Vykoukal, UN, 41:19.8; 6. Geir-Endre Rogn, UNM, 41:59.9; 7. Dirk Grimm, UNM, 42:09.7; 8. Eric Strabel, UAA, 42:21.7; 9. Benjamin Sonntag, Utah, 42:28.6; 10. Casey Simons, Utah, 42:30.2. Other CU Finishers: 12. Josh Smullin, 42:51.5; 20. Nick Sterling, 44:32.9; Tim Damrow (DNF).
Women's 10K Freestyle?1. Sarah Hansen, UAA, 32:39.5; 2. Jana Rehemaa, CU, 32:41.1; 3, Sandra Gredig, Utah, 32:45.0; 4. Martina Stursova, UNM, 32:46.9; 5. Andrea Roberts, UNM, 32:51.6; 6. Emily Robins, MSU, 32:53.9; 7. Trine Lundamo, UNM, 32:57.0; 8. Nicole Deyong, UAA, 32:58.9; 9. Barbro Hatlevik, Utah, 33:04.8; 10. Jenny Hansson, Utah, 33:14.4. Other CU Finishers: 13. Claire Critchley, 33:19.8; 15. Muriele Huberli, 33:38.6; Brooke Rygg (DNS).
Players Mentioned
