Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Utah Invitational (SL)
Buff Skiers Improve To Fourth At Utah
January 12, 2010 | Skiing
PARK CITY, Utah - The University of Colorado ski team moved up one slot to fourth after the conclusion of the alpine events here Tuesday, as the 2010 collegiate season continues to get underway with the Utah Invitational. After Tuesday's slalom races on the alpine side, the event will conclude Jan. 22-23 with the Nordic races at Soldier Hollow, Utah.
Defending RMISA champion New Mexico continues to hold on to first place with 467 points, followed by defending NCAA champion Denver with 423, then Utah (378) and the Buffaloes (370), followed by Nevada (344), Alaska Anchorage (329) and Montana State (291).
Both the men's and women's teams for Colorado improved upon yesterday's performances on the scoreboard, as the men's team scored 90 points, 15 better than Monday and the women's team racked up 107 points, besting Monday's total by nine.
"We always anticipate that we ski stronger in the slalom than the GS," CU head coach Richard Rokos said. "And that was evident today with our results. But we still have a lot of room to improve."
Unlike Monday when the Buffs had just one top 10 finisher, CU finished with five top 10 performances led by newcomer Erika Ghent. CU's lone top 10 performer in the GS on Monday was able to earn a podium appearance, taking third in a time of 1:43.20, just .02 behind second place and just .15 behind the leader, New Mexico's Malin Hemmingsson. Ghent had the third-fastest time in her first run and was able to hold onto that placement with the seventh-best time in her second run.
"Erika was the best skier for us today," Rokos said of Ghent. "I was hoping to have more than one podium appearance this weekend, but she did great. The conditions were perfect for her. Like yesterday, she had a low starting position (26th) and finished third. You can't do that with poor snow, so my hats off to the course crew. It was near perfect conditions."
After Ghent, three other CU women finished in the top 11 as junior Katie Hartman (1:43.62) took eighth, junior Carolina Nordh (1:44.16) took 10th and freshman Sara Hjertman (1:44.30) took 11th. Freshman Khyla Burrows rebounded from a fall on Monday to finish 20th in 1:49.64 and sophomore Joelle Chevalier finished 30th with a time of 2:10.11. Jennifer Allen did not finish the first run.
"Carolina and Katie both skied well today," Rokos said. "They aren't fully engaged yet and are not maxed out, but they will get there. Sara is another injured athlete who is slowed a bit, but she also skied well today."
In the men's slalom, the Buffs were without two of their top skiers in junior Gabriel Rivas, who injured himself in Monday's GS race and senior Arman Serebrakian, who injured his back on the first day of training a few weeks ago. Rokos expects both skiers will have a shot of skiing later this week at Montana State.
Sophomore Taggart Spenst rebounded from not finishing the GS race to lead the Buffs with an eighth place finish in a time of 1:51.95 and he was followed closely by senior Drew Roberts (ninth, 1:52.10). CU's third scorer was senior Stefan Hughes, who was fifth after the first run but struggled in the second run to finish 14th in a time of 1:53.56. Freshman Spencer Nelson, CU's top finisher in the GS, took 16th in a time of 1:53.69. Eric Davis did not finish the second run for the Buffaloes.
"The men skied well given the circumstances," Rokos said. "With Gabriel and Arman out and being hit by the injury bug, we had to ski very conservatively. There was no room for error. Once we get those two back, we can let it loose a little bit."
Prior to the conclusion of the Utah Invitational, the teams will head northeast to Bozeman to participate in the Montana State Invitational this Friday through Sunday (Jan. 15-17). The meet will feature an extra GS race for NCAA qualification purposes on Friday with the scoring races for the meet slated for Saturday and Sunday.
Utah Invitational Team Scores (4 events)-1. New Mexico 467; 2. Denver 423; 3. Utah 378; 4. Colorado 370; 4. Nevada 344; 6. Alaska-Anchorage 329; 7. Montana State 291.
Women's Slalom (32 finishers)-1. Malin Hemmingsson, UNM, 1:42.05; 2. Lindsay Cone, DU, 1:42.18; 3. Erika Ghent, CU, 1:43.20; 4 (tie). Jacqueline Hangl, UNM and Eva Huckova, UU, 1:43.26; 6 (tie). Petra Gantnerova, UAA and Kate Williams, UNM, 1:43.42; 8. Katie Hartman, CU, 1:43.62; 9. Alexandra Parker, UAA, 1:43.91; 10. Carolina Nordh, CU, 1:44.16. Other CU Finishers: 11. Sara Hjertman, 1:44.30; 20. Khyla Burrows, 1:49.29; 28. Joelle Chevalier, 2:10.11. Did Not Finish (1st run): Jennifer Allen.
Men's Slalom (34 finishers)-1. Leif Kristian Haugen, DU, 1:49.76; 2. Torjus Krogdahl, UU, 1:50.70; 3. Andreas Kilde, DU, 1:50.79; 4. Petter Brenna, UNM, 1:51.39; 5. Chriss Salbu, UNM, 1:51.66; 6. Martin Harris, UN, 1:51.71; 7. Chris Barber, MSU, 1:51.94; 8. Taggart Spenst, CU, 1:51.95; 9. Drew Roberts, CU, 1:52.10; 10. Oliver LaCaille, UNM, 1:51.12. Other CU Finishers: 14. Stefan Hughes, 1:53.56; 16. Spencer Nelson, 1:53.69. Did Not Finish (2nd run): Eric Davis.
