University of Colorado Athletics
Colorado
Montana State Invitational (GS/FS)
Skiers Extend Lead In Montana
January 16, 2010 | Skiing
BOZEMAN, Mont. ? A second consecutive day of numerous top 10 finishes, 11 in all on Saturday, has positioned the University of Colorado ski team in a firm grasp of first place here Saturday after the second day of the Montana State Invitational.
The Buffaloes extended their lead from 42 to 60 points after four events Saturday, going into Sunday's slalom races with a total of 691, well ahead of second place New Mexico (631) at this point. Denver holds down third with 611, followed by Utah (539), Alaska-Anchorage (526), Montana State (463) and Nevada (445).
Despite yet not reaching the top of the podium, the Buffaloes had 11 skiers finish in their respective top 10s in the four races, and also occupied the 11th spot three additional times. CU has 16 top 10 efforts toward scoring here this weekend, topping New Mexico (10) and Denver and Utah (nine each).
“It was another good day for us on the alpine hill, and with the Nordics doing as well or even a little bit better than yesterday, we should be in good position to win the meet,” CU head coach Richard Rokos said. “We have the slalom tomorrow, and that's been our stronger event recently, so it'll be interesting to see what we can do even though slaloms are so much more unpredictable. No lead is really that safe when you end with the slalom.”
New Mexico's Martin Kaas won his second straight race out of the chute, claiming the men's 10K freestyle in 24:52.74. That bested CU junior Vegard Kjoelhamar by 18/100 of a second, who finished the Bridger Bowl loops in 24:52.92. Though separated by that slim margin, there was no sprint at the finish; the race featured 30-second interval starts.
The Buffs had four finishers in the top nine, as joining Kjoelhamar were junior Jesper Ostensen in fourth (25:24.39), senior Matt Gelso in seventh (25:37.00) and junior Patrick Neel in ninth (25:55.73). Rounding out CU's efforts Saturday were freshmen Ian Mallams, who was 22nd in a 27:21.44 time, and Chris Woods, who placed 33rd in 30:28.52. Sophomore Reid Pletcher, one of CU's better performers, is not with the team as he remained back in Boulder.
In the women's 5K freestyle, sophomore Eliska Hajkova was second for a second straight day, posting a 13:53.46 time, once again trailing only Denver's Antje Maempel, who added Saturday's event to her Friday title in the classical; she skied the course in 13:36.92. Freshman Joanne Reid was sixth in 14:17.05, with junior Alexa Turzian placing 11th in 14:39.14. Two freshmen accounted for the rest of CU's contingent here, Mary Rose (25th, 15:42.96) and Katherine Ingalls (30th, 18:35.75).
“I feel good about things, we had a solid weekend, but I certainly don't feel we're at our best yet,” Nordic coordinator Bruce Cranmer said. “We're missing Reid because he is sick, and no one is really at the top of their games, but we don't want them to be until a month or so from now when we're heading into nationals. There's been a lot of travel, and I'm not sure anyone is on their “A” game, and that really applies to all schools. It's nice to have top results, but it can also make you a little nervous because you don't want to peak too early and post great results not and not later on.”
“Eliska is still learning and getting used to altitude, and she started out a bit fast today and wound up paying a bit of a price for it the second half of the race,” Cranmer said. “But that aide, she still has had a solid start at altitude. We're also excited with Joanne's results; she's only 17 and was thinking about delaying her college career a year but was able to join us this semester. She'll be leaving us next week to represent the U.S. in the World Junior Championships in Germany so she'll miss the back end of Utah's meet.”
Colorado won the overall Nordic competition here with 481 points, ahead of New Mexico (395) and Denver (391); the Buffs also won the men's with 255 points (next, New Mexico with 216) and the women's with 226, nipping DU (222).
“The Nordics did a super job, really carrying us in this meet; on days when alpine isn't running hot or we have hikes and crashes, it's nice to know that they're so consistent,” Rokos said. “That really helps us mentally knowing they are so strong.”
In the women's giant slalom, freshman Erika Ghent once again posted CU's top finish, snaring fourth in 1:47.5, with junior Katie Hartman right behind her in 1:47.6. New Mexico's Malin Hemmingsson won in a two-run time of 1:46.9.
Freshman Sara Hjertman supported the 4-5 finish by her teammates with a ninth place showing in 1:49.2, while junior Carolina Nordh was 11th (1:49.3) and freshman Khyla Burrows 18th (1:50.1). Sophomore Jennifer Allen had a few troubles Saturday and slipped down to 33rd (1:59.1) after finishing seventh in Friday's GS. CU's other performer, sophomore Joelle Chevalier, did not finish her first run.
In the men's GS, junior Gabriel Rivas led the way with a sixth place effort in 1:45.10, despite still nursing a very sore calf muscle he injured last Monday in Utah. Sophomore Taggart Spenst finished eighth (1:45.23) and freshman Spencer Nelson 11th (1:45.4), as CU and DU were the only schools to place three skiers in the top 12. New Mexico's Petter Brenna won the race in a 1:43.76 time.
Seniors Drew Roberts (18th, 1:46.1), Arman Serebrakian (24th, 1:47.3) and Stefan Hughes (34th, 1:49.2) along with sophomore Eric Davis (27th, 1:47.5) rounded out the men's action for the Buffs.
The meet concludes Sunday with the slalom races, the first runs set for 9:45 a.m. followed by the second runs at 1 p.m. The teams will then return to Utah later next week to complete the Nordic portion of the Utah Invitational.
ELSEWHERE IN NCAA SKIING: Dartmouth won the first eastern competition in impression fashion, claiming the St. Lawrence Carnival with a team total of 957 points. The Big Green led by 50 at the midway point, but another strong Nordic performance paved the way for a 108-point winning margin, as Vermont was the runner-up with 849. New Hampshire was third with 828, then a bit of drop off in points to another grouping with Middlebury (685), Williams (577) and Bates (547) occupying the next three spots. Dartmouth had two individual winners, with New Hampshire and Vermont one each Saturday. Next up is the St. Michaels Carnival next weekend. Colorado hosts the NCAA Championships this March 10-13 in Steamboat Springs.
Montana State Invitational Team Scores (6 events)?1. Colorado 691; 2. New Mexico 631; 3. Denver 611; 4. Utah 539;
5. Alaska-Anchorage 526; 6. Montana State 463; 7. Nevada 445.
Men's 10k Freestyle (33 finishers)?1. Martin Kaas, UNM, 24:52.74; 2. Vegard Kjoelhamar, CU, 24:52.92; 3. Michael Schallinger, UAA, 25:12.49; 4. Jesper Ostensen, CU, 25:24.39; 5. Miles Havlick, Utah, 25:29.50; 6. Harald Loevenskiold, DU, 25:32.64; 7. Matt Gelso, CU, 25:37.00; 8. Tyler Reinking, MSU, 25:39.66; 9. Patrick Neel, CU, 25:55.73; 10. Rolf Figi, Utah, 25:57.37. Other CU Finishers: 22. Ian Mallams, 27:21.44; 33. Chris Woods, 30:28.52.
Women's 5k Freestyle (30 finishers)?1. Antje Maempel, DU, 13:36.92; 2. Eliska Hajkova, CU, 13:53.46; 3. Polina Ermoshina, UNM, 14:07.34; 4. Maria Graefnings, UNR, 14:10.15; 5. Laura Rombach, UAA, 14:11.85; 6. Joanne Reid, CU, 14:17.05; 7. Kate Dolan, DU, 14:20.55; 8. Zoe Roy, Utah, 14:32.56; 9, Kristin Roennestrand, UNR, 14:33.40; 10. Jamie Bronga, UAA, 14:33.67. Other CU Finishers: 11. Alexa Turzian, 14:39.14; 25, Mary Rose, 15:42.96; 30. Katherine Ingalls, 18:35.75.
Men's Giant Slalom (41 finishers)? 1. Petter Brenna, UNM, 1:43.76; 2. Leif Haugen, DU, 1:43.93; 3. Max Lamb, Utah, 1:44.37; 4. A.J. Avrin, DU, 1:44.71; 5. Thomas Schwab, UNM, 1:44.84; 6. Gabriel Rivas, CU, 1:45.10; 7. Kyle Kung, Utah, 1:45.20; 8. Taggart Spenst, CU, 1:45.23; 9. Andreas Kilde, DU, 1:45.29; 10. Mike Mackie, MSU, 1:45.39. Other CU Finishers: 11. Spencer Nelson, 1:45.4; 18. Drew Roberts, 1:46.1; 24. Arman Serebrakian, 1:47.3; 27. Eric Davis, 1:47.5; 34. Stefan Hughes, 1:49.2.
Women's Giant Slalom (35 finishers)?1. Malin Hemmingsson, UNM, 1:46.9; 2. Lindsay Cone, DU, 1:47.2; 3. Eva Huckova, Utah, 1:47.4; 4. Erika Ghent, CU, 1:47.5; 5. Katie Hartman, CU, 1:47.6; 6. Anne Brusletto, UNM, 1:47.9; 7. Alexandra Parker, UAA, 1:48.0; 8. Stefanie Demetz, UNM, 1:48.9; 9. Sara Hjertman, CU, 1:49.2; 10. Sofia Smith, Utah, 1:49.3. Other CU Finishers: 11. Carolina Nordh, 1:49.3; 18. Khyla Burrows, 1:50.1; 33. Jennifer Allen, 1:59.1. Did Not Finish (1st run): Joelle Chevalier.
