Skiers Lead Own Invitational After Day One

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - Behind a solid performance from its Nordic teams, particularly four finishers in the top six from its women, the University of Colorado ski team leads its own CU/Laura Sharpe Flood Memorial Ski Invitational after the first day of competition here Friday.

The Buffs, ranked No. 2 in the nation, lead a meet for the first time in two years, as Colorado scored 163 points in the Nordic classical races to lead top-ranked Denver by 15 points after two of eight scheduled events. The defending NCAA champion Pioneers hold second place firmly with 148 points, followed by New Mexico (125), Alaska-Anchorage (106), Utah (97) and Nevada (94). Steamboat will host the 53rd annual NCAA Championships March 8-11, so this is a good opportunity for the western schools to get the lay of the land, so-to-speak.

Colorado is out to end a drought of 17 straight meets without a victory, last claiming a win in its own invitational three years ago this week at Eldora. Behind five combined top four finishes between the men and women, the Buffs have placed themselves in position to end the string.

The women, with four skiers among the top six finishers, accomplished that for just the second time in school history; the only previous occasion occurred in CU's meet at Eldora in 1997, when Buffalo women finished second, third, fourth and fifth.

Sophomore Maria Grevsgaard led the way with a convincing win in the women's 5-kilometer classic race, posting a time of 15:29.1, some 22 seconds ahead of teammate, senior Jana Rehemaa. Rehemaa, who led much of the race that featured a staggered start, was the only other skier to complete the course in sub-16 minutes, doing so in 15:51.6.

"I have been in really good shape after Montana," Grevsgaard said following her first collegiate victory, CU's fifth individual win this winter. "I had a really good feeling before we started today. Perfect course, weather and snow. It was a nice day for a ski race, and I had the perfect starting position because they could give me splits all the time."

"I think we can take this meet," she added. "But it is more important to win in March. I am very excited for the NCAA's if I qualify. Hopefully I can ski as fast as I did today."

Denver's Anna-Karin Maeki claiming the bronze spot on the podium in 16:00.5, with CU freshmen Lenka Palanova capturing fourth in 16:11.1 and Buff sophomore Kristin Soenstegaard sixth in 16:34.9.

The men were no slouches, with three in the top nine in their 10k version, though Denver corralled the top two spots. John Stene won in a 27:30.3 time, edging teammate Rene Reisshauer by two seconds (27:32.4). CU senior Henrik Hoye, who was hampered by illness three weeks ago, finished third in 28:00.6, his first top five finish this winter. Sophomore Kit Richmond was right behind him in 28:07.4 to take fourth, his third top five finish and fifth top eight result.

Senior Erling Christiansen, also fighting illness much of the winter, supported the aforementioned pair with a ninth place effort in 28:36.2, with another Buff senior, Nick Sterling, 17th in 29:35.0.

"I really liked the course, it was a tough layout, it was good to measure shape," Hoye said. "I'm in much better shape, but not my best shape. I still have room for improvement until March. But we're glad to have this chance to see how the course is now, and that will help us to be well prepared for the NCAA's."

"I feel pretty good about things," CU Nordic coordinator Bruce Cranmer said. "You can't ask for much better than what the girls did, and the guys are just getting a little bit better each time out. DU is a very strong classic team, so hopefully tomorrow we'll fare a little bit better, as today was their strongest suit and we might be a little bit better in freestyle.

"We're getting healthier," he noted about his team's physical condition. "Erling isn't 100 percent yet and is still taking some antibiotics, but he said he felt better than last week and seems to be improving. Henrik isn't all the way there yet either, but traditional gets better as the season goes along which is just what we want.

"I think were on schedule to peak when we want to," Cranmer added. "We're not at a super high place, so I don't think the girls are peaking, at least I hope not. Jana should get better, Maria feels like she's in good shape and the longer Lenka is here and settles in, she'll get a little bit better to. So I think we're on schedule and are moving in the right direction."

The Nordic portion of the meet concludes Saturday with the freestyle races. The men ski first, with their 20-kilometer race at 9:30 a.m., followed by the women's 15k at 11:30. Both races take place at the Howelsen Hill Nordic Center. The alpine teams will complete the meet next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 3-4), with giant slaloms at Mount Werner and the slaloms at Howelsen Hill; the slaloms will start at 5 p.m., the first night competition ever among western teams.

COLORADO INVITATIONAL TEAM SCORES-1. Colorado 163; 2. Denver 148; 3. New Mexico 125; 4. Alaska-Anchorage 106; 5. Utah 97; 6. Nevada 94; 7. Montana State 73; 8. Western State 59; 9. Wyoming 37; 10. Whitman 27; 11. Boise State 0.

1. Maria Grevsgaard, CU, 15:29.1; 2. Jana Rehemaa, CU, 15:51.6; 3. Anna-Karin Maeki, DU, 16:00.5; 4. Lenka Palanova, CU, 16:11.1; 5. Marit Rognmo, UNM, 16:32.9; 6. Kristin Soenstegaard, CU, 16:34.9; 7. Nicole Naef, UU, 16:39.8; 8. Crystin Jaques, UNM, 16:40.9; 9. Ingvild Engesland, DU, 16:43.9; 10. Sally Johnson, UN, 16:52.6; Other Area Results: 15. Ashley Quiggle, WSC, 17:05.9; 22. Karin Nilsson, DU, 17:31.0; 25. Courtney Dauwalter, DU, 17:34.6; 30. Mia Gaw, CU, 17:45.6; 31. Kara LaPointe, DU, 17:56.8; 39. Kate Chapman, WSC, 19:04.4; 42. Mary Matthews, WSC, 20:25.1; 45. Megan Wilder,CU, 21:41.3.

Men's 10K Classical-1. John Stene, DU, 27:30.3; 2. Rene Reisshauer, DU, 27:32.4; 3. Henrik Hoye, CU, 28:00.6; 4. Kit Richmond, CU, 28:07.4; 5. Dirk Grimm, UNM, 28:19.6; 6. Havard Selseng, DU, 28:21.0; 7. Kjetil Dammen, UAA, 28:21.4; 8. Benjamin Sonntag, UAA, 28:29.6; 9. Erling Christiansen, CU, 28:36.2; 10. Lutz Preussler, UN, 28:56.9. Other Area Results: 17. Nick Sterling, CU, 29:35.0; 18. Andy Richmond, WSC, 29:45.8; 19. Paul Schauer, UAA, 29:47.4; 20. Garrett Reid, CU, 29:51.4; 22. Josh Dayton, WSC, 30:25.9; 24. Dan Clark, DU, 30:30.5; 25. Joaquin Goodpaster, CU, 30:32.8; 26. Mario Peng, WSC, 30:40.6; 28. Espen Haugen, DU, 30:52.8; 32. Josh Smith, CU, 31:20.5; 34. David Kurtz, WSC, 31:36.1; 36. Kyle Ahern, DU, 31:57.3; 41. Taylor Shelden, DU, 33:01.5; 43. Pasha Kahn, WSC, 39:19.9; 44. Ben Storrud, WSC, 33:31.6.