TAOS, N.M. ? It took 33 days in three states to complete three races, but the defending national champion University of Colorado ski team finally claimed the win in the Montana State Invitational.
The giant slalom races were made up here Thursday after two previous cancellations, first back on January 6 in Bozeman and then last Sunday at Eldora, site of the initial makeup.
The Buffaloes cruised to the win with 579? points, topping second place Denver which finished with 550. The Buffs held a 53.5-point lead heading into the final two races, and held on for their sixth win in the last seven meets. Utah (484?), New Mexico (424) and Alaska-Anchorage (423) rounded out the top five.
The women's alpine team once again shined for Colorado, as three Buffaloes placed in the top nine. Junior Lucie Zikova, CU's Female Athlete of the Week after winning the two races last weekend in Denver's meet, finished second in the giant slalom. Her two-run time of 1:53.53 trailed Western State's Sarah Schaedler's winning effort of 1:52.97. The Czech Republic native now has three wins, two seconds and one DNF (did not finish) in six races this winter.
Sophomore Lisa Perricone finished eighth in 1:54.59 and junior Rachel Roosevelt ninth in 1:55.17. Freshman Heidi Hillenbrand fell during her second run and would finish 41st; she was on pace to contend for podium honors her first run time of 54.33 had her in second place.
In the men's GS, Denver's Adam Cole claimed the top prize in a time of 1:49.45, as freshman Stefan Hughes was the lone Buff with a top 10 finish; he grabbed ninth in 1:50.56, thanks to his posting the fastest time the second time down the mountain (56.76). Junior Miles Cooke placed 12th in 1:50.94, with sophomore Tony Cesolini 18th in 1:51.99.
“We didn't have that great of a day,” CU head coach Richard Rokos said. “The women skied well again, and had it not been for Heidi's fall, we'd have had four top 10. The men are not skiing consistent right now. We're glad we won, but we need to get ready for what we have just ahead. A month from today we're in New Hampshire at the NCAA Championships.”
The alpine teams will head a bit south to join their Nordic counterparts in the Santa Fe area for the New Mexico Invitational, which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday. It is the last tune-up ahead of the RMISA Championships (NCAA West Regional) in two weeks.
Montana State Invitational Team Scores?1. Colorado 579.5; 2. Denver 550; 3. Utah 484.5; 4. New Mexico 424; 5. Alaska-Anchorage 423; 6. Montana State 408; 7. Nevada 375; 8. Western State 262; 9. Whitman 155; 10. Wyoming 27.
Men's Giant Slalom?1. Adam Cole, DU, 1:49.45; 2. Lars Loeseth, UNM, 1:49.74; 3. Tague Thorson, Utah, 1:49.90; 4. Ian Dunlop, DU, 1:50.01; 5. Jon Masdal, UNM, 1:50.05; 6. Francesco Ghedina, DU, 1:50.13; 7. Cameron Barnes, UN, 1:50.31; 8. Alex Mach, UNM, 1:50.37; 9. Stefan Hughes, CU, 1:50.56; 10. Scott Veenis, Utah, 1:50.62. Other CU Skiers: 12. Miles Cooke, 1:50.94; 18. Tony Cesolini, 1:51.99; 31. Josh Bryan, 1:54.75; 36. Drew Roberts, 1:55.86; 40. Arman Serebrakian, 2:25.67.
Women's Giant Slalom?1. Sarah Schaedler, WSC, 1:52.97; 2. Lucie Zikova, CU, 1:53.53; 3. Jennifer Tank, DU, 1:53.93; 4. Spela Bertoncelj, MSU, 1:54.16; 5. Chirine Njeim, Utah, 1:54.20; 6. Karine Falck-Pedersen, DU, 1:54.32; 7. Malin Hemmingsson, UNM, 1:54.34; 8. Lisa Perricone, CU, 1:54.59; 9. Rachel Roosevelt, CU, 1:55.17; 10. Amy Lattimer, MSU, 1:55.19. Other CU Skiers: 24. Kristin Taylor, 1:57.38; 37. Leslie Fox, 2:02.04; 41. Heidi Hillenbrand, 2:15.38.
