Colorado University Athletics
Gelso and Nordh Race To Athlete of the Week Honors
February 24, 2009 | General, Skiing
BOULDER-- University of Colorado skiers Matt Gelso (junior) and Carolina Nordh (sophomore), were named Athletes of the Week for the week of February 16-22. This is the second award of the season for both athletes. This brings Gelso's total to four career honors, while Nordh now has two for her career. This week's awards mark the third time this season that the skiers have swept the board.
Gelso, a Truckee, Calif. (Truckee) native, helped CU to a runner-up finish in the RMISA Championships with two top five finishes in Nordic competition. Skiing in his hometown, he finished second in the men's 15-kilometer freestyle with a time of 35:49.5. His time of 27:42.9 was good enough for fifth in the men's 10K classical races. He has seven top five finishes in eight races this winter.
Nordh, a Sundbyberg, Sweden (Ostersund) native, helped the Buffs' at the RMISA Championships, she won the women's giant slalom, Colorado's first win by a women's alpine skier this winter. Starting in the 19th position, she zoomed into fourth after the first run and then overtook the remaining three with a stellar second run. Nordh became CU's first giant slalom titlist in the RMISA Championships in a decade; the last Buff to win was Aimee-Noel Hartley in 1999. She also finished seventh in the slalom, overall helping the Buffs to a runner-up finish in the event. She had five top five finishes on the winter before finally breaking through for her first collegiate victory.
Others nominated for this week's award were Austin Dufault (men's basketball), Mac Crawford (men's track), Brittany Spears (women's basketball), Stephanie Simich (women's golf), and Kaity Kark (women's track).
Men's Basketball: Austin Dufaullt, Freshman, Killdeer, N.D.
Dufault scored a game-high 15 points with a team-best five rebounds in Colorado's 66-53 loss to nationally ranked Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 21. It was the first time this season that he has led the Buffaloes in both categories during a game. Earlier in the week, Dufault chipped-in nine points and three rebounds in CU's 46-41 loss at Nebraska. On the season Dufault is averaging 9.2 points per game and ranks second in rebounding with four a game.
Men's Track: Mac Crawford, Sophomore, Portland, Ore.
Crawford recorded a toss of 55 feet, 3.50 inches in the finals of the weight throw to earn a second-place finish. He was fourth in the prelims after earning a mark of 53-01.50. Crawford bested teammate Chase Dukes who had been second place after the prelims. Crawford also placed 12th in the shot put with a throw of 42-03.75.
Women's Basketball: Brittany Spears, Sophomore, Pasadena, Calif.
Spears recorded her eighth double-double of the season, and led the Buffs' with 25 points and 12 rebounds in their 72-60 loss to Kansas State. Spears went 7-of-7 from the charity stripe, and shot 8-25 from the floor. In the teams 69-62 win over Kansas Spears had 18 points and 7 rebounds. She shot 6-of-13 from the field, and was perfect at the free-throw line shooting 6-of-6.
Women's Golf: Stephanie Simich, Sophomore, Mississauga, Ontario.
Simich led CU in the tournament thanks to a strong third round, one-under 71. Simich demonstrated steady improvement with all three rounds, improving as much as seven strokes from round one to three. Her 226 total landed her a spot in the top-10 as she finished in a tie for ninth place.
Women's Track: Kaity Kark, Junior, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Kark was in first place after the qualifying rounds of the shot put. Her toss of 41-00.25 earned her a second place finish as UNC's Meaghan Green took first with a throw of 42-05.25. Kark also took fourth in the weight throw with a season best mark of 48-09.00. She leads the CU women's throwers this season in both events.
