Colorado University Athletics
Von Hagen and Grevsgaard Race to CU Athlete of the Week Honors
January 22, 2008 | General, Track and Field, Skiing
BOULDER-- Track heptathlon athlete Alex Von Hagen (freshman) and skier Maria Grevsgaard (senior), were named University of Colorado Athletes of the Week for the week of January 14-20. This is Von Hagen's first CU Athlete of the Week honor. Grevsgaard earned his second (consecutive) honor and the fourth of her career, she is now in a three-way tie for second place all-time among skiers behind teammate Lucie Zikova (5).
Von Hagen, a Broomfield, Colo. (Legacy) native, won his first collegiate heptathlon on Jan. 19. Von Hagen ran the final race in the event, the 1,000, and placed third overall at 2:51.73, just over three seconds ahead of the Air Force Academy's Skylar Morgan to seal the victory in his first collegiate heptathlon. He recorded 4,784 points, just 18 more than Morgan's total. Von Hagen's point total of 4,784 is a Balch Fieldhouse record. He also became the fifth-best performer in CU history and his mark is seventh on the all-time heptathlon list.
Grevsgaard, a Geilo, Norway (Norges Toppidrettsgymnas), continued her torrid pace this winter, as she has now won all four Nordic races to date after claiming the 5-kilometer freestyle and the 10-kilometer classic to help CU win its own invitational last week at Winter Park. She continues to dominate the field, as she won the freestyle by 31 seconds and the classic by 80, with her four wins coming by a combined total of 5 minutes and 42 seconds. None have been less than 30 seconds as she has been the most dominant performer in the NCAA West at the one-third mark of the season.
The victory was the 12th of her career, tying the second most overall career wins in CU history as she has caught teammate Lucie Zikova (12 alpine wins). Both are chasing the all-time leader, Per Kare Jakobsen, who claimed 13 cross country events from 1988-90. John Skajem also won 12 events in his career, which spanned 1985 through 1987. Grevsgaard has now won four straight races for the first time in her career, and is the first Colorado skier to win the first four races in RMISA competition since 1999, when Ove Erik Tronvoll won the first five (cross country races). It's longest individual streak by a CU skier since 2006, when Jana Rehemaa, now CU's assistant Nordic coach, won the last six races of the season. The school record for the most consecutive wins is eight, by Nordic skier Line Selnes in 1998, her only year in the CU program.
Others nominated for this week's award were Richard Roby (men's basketball), Jesper Ostensen (skiing), Jackie McFarland (women's basketball), Troi Smith (track) and Camila Belassi (tennis).
Men's Basketball: Richard Roby, Senior, San Bernardino, Calif.
Roby averaged 15 points and 7.5 rebounds during the week leading Colorado to a 1-1 record in Big 12 Conference play. Roby recorded his third double-double of the season (eighth career) helping the Buffaloes defeat Nebraska, 55-51 in CU's conference home opener. Roby also added a season-best three blocked shots against the Cornhuskers. In his second game of the week, Roby scored a team-high 18 points with five rebounds in the Buff's 69-67 loss at No. 19 Texas.
Skiing: Jesper Ostensen, Freshman, Hosle, Norway
Ostensen led CU in both Nordic races in the CU Invitational, finishing fifth in the 15-kilometer classic and 11th in the 10-kilometer freestyle. The fifth place effort marked the best finish of his collegiate career.
Women's Basketball: Jackie McFarland, Senior, Derby, Kan.
McFarland averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds during the week as Colorado went 0-2 in Big 12 Conference play. In the Buffs 72-68 home loss to Texas A&M, McFarland recorded 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and added nine rebounds, two blocks and an assist. In CU's 67-60 loss at Kansas State, McFarland recorded 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting including 2-of-3 from behind the arch and a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. She also added 11 rebounds and a block, an assist and a steal in the contest.
Track and Field: Troi Smith, Sophomore, DeSoto, Texas
Smith led the Buffs with 3,102 points and placed second in the women's combined event. She was the top collegiate performer in her first combined events competition. Smith took third in the 60-meter hurdles (9.42), shot put (30-01), high jump (5-02.25) and long jump (16-10.5). She was fourth in the 800-meter run (2:35.81).
Tennis: Camila Belassi, Sophomore, Paysandu, Uruguay
Belassi upset the No. 85th nationally ranked player in Sandra Zmak of New Mexico, 7-5, 6-4 helping the Colorado tennis team gain a point, however, the team lost the battle in falling to the No. 67 ranked Lobos, 4-3. Belassi won her first collegiate match at No. 3 singles and tallied her 23rd career singles triumph.
