Skiers In Fourth At Alaska Invitational

(corrected from original report)

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah - The University of Colorado ski team officially opened its season here Saturday and stand in fourth place after two Nordic events of the Alaska Invitational.

Soldier Hollow is serving as host to the meet, which is intertwined with the U.S. Nationals taking place here at the same time. Collegians from all three NCAA regions are competing here this weekend.

Defending NCAA champion Denver got out of the gate by taking the first day lead with161 points, ahead of Utah (137), "host" Alaska-Anchorage (132), Colorado (119) and New Mexico (110) in the 10-team western competition.

Sophomore Maria Grevsgaard had CU's top finish Saturday, finishing as the second western skier in the women's 10-kilometer classical race in a 37:58.1 time. She was the fourth collegian and placed 16th overall in the race, with U.S. national team candidates owning the top six spots. Freshman Lenka Palanova was seventh in the west (43rd overall) in a 39:48.4 time.

Sophomore Kit Richmond paced the men's effort, finishing fourth among the western skiers in the men's 15-kilometer classical in a 42:31.4 time. He was 18th overall in the race and the fifth collegian. Senior Nick Sterling posted a top 20 college finish for the Buffaloes, grabbing 16th in 46:19.4.

"Everybody is just sort of getting back in the groove, from holiday vacations, travel, all those things," said Bruce Cranmer, CU's Nordic coordinator. "We were below where can ski and where we have skied in the past. But certainly there is no cause for alarm, as we had three out due to sickness. Kit skied well, and with all the western skiers here and the better skiers from the east and central as well, that made it a very good result for him."

"Maria didn't feel like she had a particularly good race, in fact, she thought is was a bad race for her, and she skied top four of all the collegians," Cranmer added. "Lenka came in a skied to a top 10 finish in her first effort.

"It's hard to gauge, as there are a lot of people sick from many schools. We'll get better, you don't want to be on your "A" game just yet. You want to get better as the season goes along, peak at the right time and save our best results for the end."

Top CU senior Jana Rehemaa participated Saturday in a World Cup race in Estonia, trying to qualify for her native country's national team. She finished 31st in that competition but does not know if she has yet made the team.

Seniors Erling Christiansen and Henrik Hoye and sophomore Kristin Soenstegaard all tried to ski despite being ill, but could not finish their respective races. All are likely top five performers for the Buffaloes.

The Nordic portion of the meet concludes Sunday with the freestyle races, with the men to skate 10 kilometers and the women five. The alpine events are set for Wednesday and Thursday at Park City.

ALPINE NOTES?The men's and women's alpine teams competed in a FIS race Saturday at Snowbird, highlighted by CU women finishing 1-2-7 in the slalom. Sophomore Lucie Zikova edged teammate Lisa Perricone, a freshman, with junior Kristin Taylor taking seventh. Taylor was fourth after the morning run, with sophomore Rachel Roosevelt fifth; Roosevelt did not finish her second run, the same fate for two CU men in the giant slalom. Freshman Jonas Kryzl was fourth and sophomore Joel Adams eighth after the morning run, but both skied off the course the second time down, a fate common to many on the day.

Alaska Invitational Team Scores?1. Denver 161; 2. Utah 137; 3. Alaska-Anchorage 132; 4. Colorado 119; 5. Alaska-Anchorage 110; 6. Montana State 91; 7. Nevada 64; 8. Whitman 57; 9. Western State 56; 10. Boise State 6.

Women's 10K Classical?1. Anna-Karin Maeki, DU, 37:44.3; 2. Maria Grevsgaard, CU, 37:58.1; 3. Sara Schweiger, Utah, 38:41.2; 4.Laura Valaas, WC, 39:22.9; 5. Linda Pettersson, Utah, 39:33.0; 6. Karin Nilsson, DU, 39:37.6; 7. Lenka Palanova, CU, 39:48.4; 8. Marit Rognmo, UNM, 39:58.9; 9. Kasandra Rice, UAA, 40:02.5; 10. Nicole Naef, Utah, 40:17.2. Other CU Results: 24.Mia Gaw, 42:19.7; Kristin Soenstegaard DNF.

Men's 15K Classical?1. Rene Reisshauer, DU, 40:54.3; 2. John Stene, DU, 41:29.8; 3. Kjetil Dammen, UAA, 42:01.4; 4. Kit Richmond, CU, 42:31.4; 5. Havard Selseng, DU, 42:38.9; 6. Brent Knight, UAA, 42:46.4; 7. Dirk Grimm, UNM, 43:16.8; 8. Benjamin Sonntag, UAA, 43:41.3; 9. Brian Gregg, UAA, 43:58.9; 10. Erik Gjomle, Utah, 44:07.4. Other CU Results: 16. Nick Sterling, 46:19.4; 21. Garrett Reid, 47:31.4; 23. Joaquin Goodpaster, 48:56.3; Erling Christiansen DNF, Henrik Hoye DNF, Joshua Smith DNP.