Skiers Finish Third At Utah Invitational

Utah Invitational Full Results (Jan. 11-23)

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah ? Trailing by 97 points after last week’s alpine events and down three Nordic skiers, the University of Colorado ski team was a long shot to win the Utah Invitational. But for the second meet in a row, CU’s cross country performers were the best in the west and rallied the Buffaloes to within 29 points of the top spot and a third place finish here Saturday.

New Mexico led from wire-to-wire and won with 850 points, while DU held the second spot throughout and finished with 835. The Buffaloes, who opened in fifth after the giant slalom, moved into fourth after the slalom and into third after the first day of Nordic activity, finished in the third spot, though zoomed to 821 total points after racking up 238 Saturday. Host Utah (737) and Alaska-Anchorage (697) rounded out the top five; the Seawolves were second to the Buffs on the day with 200 cross country points.

The Buffs were buoyed by six finishes in the top seven of the two freestyle races, including four on the men’s side. It marked the second time this year and the fifth time in the last 14 regular season races that the CU men had four finishers in the top 10. CU has had at least three in the top 10 for 14 regular season meets in a row.

In the women’s 15-kilometer freestyle, sophomore Eliska Hajkova and junior Alexa Turzian posted a 2-3 finish for the Buffaloes. In finishing second for the third time in four races this winter, Hajkova, who won for the first time here Friday in the classical, was timed in 53:58.3, while Turzian posted her best finish this season, posting a 54:24.6 time. Denver’s Antje Maempel was the winner in 53:19.4.

The Buffalo teammates switched back and forth between second and third place much of the race before Hajkova posted the stronger time in the third split and put some distance between her and Turzian. CU was minus freshman Joanne Reid, who is competing in the FIS Nordic Junior World Championships in Hinterzarten, Germany, starting Sunday; she had fifth and sixth place finishes last week in Montana. The other two Buff women on the trip, sophomore Katie Stege and freshman Mary Rose, finished 24th and 29th, respectively.

In the men’s 20k event, the Buffs placed three in the top five and four in the top seven, though remained winless in 2010 as Alaska’s Michael Schallinger won in 1:00:36.7. Senior Matt Gelso, after 12.4 miles of skiing, was just 3.2 seconds behind him in 1:00:39.9, his second runner-up finish this winter. Three Buff juniors were next in line for CU, as defending NCAA champion Vegard Kjoelhamar was fourth in 1:02:12.1, Jesper Ostensen fifth in 1:03:38.3 and Patrick Neel seventh in 1:03:41.5, his second-best performance as a Buffalo.

Rounding out the CU men’s efforts were freshman Ian Mallams (17th, 1:05:53.9) and freshman Chris Woods (33rd, 1:12:54.9). Sophomore Reid Pletcher did not travel with the team, as he is recovering from illness and the coaches wanted to hold him out so he would be ready for the New Mexico meet in two.

“It was a very good day for the Buffaloes on pretty much a perfect day for racing, fair for everybody, not tricky and very straight forward racing,” CU Nordic coach Bruce Cranmer said. “The men have been doing well for a while now, we’ve had many bright spots. Matt was with the leaders the whole way, and it could have gone any way at the end. He was a little tired on the last lap and strategically got caught behind someone that may or may not have cost him.

“Seeing Alexa back in good form, fighting with the top skiers, was really good to witness,” Cranmer added. “She and Eliska skied together for pretty much the whole race, which was something new for Eliska and I think she enjoyed having a teammate with her most of the way. Alexa hadn’t been firing on all cylinders yet this year and she closed very strong today and has been improving with each race. Today was a very good result for her.”

Hajkova and Kjoelhamar were named the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) Skiers of the Week for the meet. The honor goes to a skier not previously afforded the honor who boasted the best combined finishes. Hajkova had a first and second while Kjoelhamar a pair of fourth place efforts.

Colorado won the Nordic competition here with 451 points, followed by DU (412) and UNM (383); New Mexico was the alpine champ with 467 (the Buffs were fourth with 370). The CU women were first, edging DU by a point, 425-424, with UNM right there at 410; the Lobos were the men’s point leaders with 440, followed by DU (411), CU (396) and Utah (387).

The season is now one-third complete. The schools will have a week off before resuming with the New Mexico Invitational on February 5-6.

ELSEWHERE IN NCAA SKIING: Dartmouth won its second meet in as many tries in the eastern region, as the Big Green won the St. Michael’s Carnival in and around Jeffersonville, Vt., with 855 points. Vermont followed in second (784) and New Hampshire grabbed third (765.5); Middlebury (742.5) and Williams (618) rounded out the top five. No one dominated the slalom races, as UVM had two in the top five of the women’s slalom, UNH two in the top six in both the men’s and the women’s, while Colby had two of the top five in the men’s. Dartmouth won the women’s cross country sprint race and Middlebury the men’s. Colorado is the host of this year’s NCAA Championships, set for March 10-13 in Steamboat Springs.

In the central region, the first day of the Central Super Tour was held Saturday in Minneapolis (freestyle races); it appears to be a non-scoring meet but Michigan Tech, Alaska-Fairbanks and Northern Michigan skiers had solid performances. The classic races are Sunday.

Comparing points between the east and west since they have the same scoring base for the first time in years, Dartmouth has 1,812 points in two meets, followed by Colorado (1,724), New Mexico (1,685), Denver (1,657), Vermont (1,632), New Hampshire (1,593.5), Utah (1,450) and Middlebury (1,425.5).

Utah Invitational Team Scores (Final; 8 events)?1. New Mexico 850; 2. Denver 835; 3. Colorado 821; 4, Utah 737; 5. Alaska-Anchorage 697; 6. Montana State 638; 7. Nevada 625; 8. Wyoming 191.

Women’s 15k Freestyle (35 finishers)? 1. Antje Maempel, DU, 53:19.4; 2. Eliska Hajkova, CU, 53:58.3; 3. Alexa Turzian, CU, 54:24.6; 4. Kate Dolan, DU, 56:24.9; 5. Maria Graefnings, UNR, 57:06.7; 6. Laura Rombach, UAA, 57:09.5; 7. Jamie Bronga, UAA, 58:15.9; 8. Polina Ermoshina, UNM, 58:18.6; 9. Corrine Malcolm. MSU, 58:19.4; 10. Zoe Roy, Utah, 58:23.5. Other CU Finishers: 24. Katie Stege, 1:02:21.8; 29, Mary Rose, 1:05:03.5.

Men’s 20k Freestyle (38 finishers)?1. Michael Schallinger, UAA, 1:00:36.7; 2. Matt Gelso, CU, 1:00.39.9; 3. Martin Kaas, UNM, 1:01:40.3; 4. Vegard Kjoelhamar, CU, 1:02:12.1; 5. Jesper Ostensen, CU, 1:03.38.3; 6. Tyler Reinking, MSU, 1:03.41.1; 7. Patrick Neel, CU, 1:03:41.5; 8. Pierre Niess, UNM, 1:03:44.4: 9. Simon Reissmann, UNM, 1:03:45.5; 10. Kristian Soerlund, DU, 1:03:47.1. Other CU Finishers: 17. Ian Mallams, 1:05:53.9; 33. Chris Woods, 1:12:54.9.

Colorado University Athletics

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