Skiers Improve Slalom Seeds

NORDEN, Calif, ? The University of Colorado ski team had four top five finishes here Sunday in the final tune-up ahead of this weekend's Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) Championships, as the Buffaloes also improved the seeding of several of their skiers in the slalom held at the Sugar Bowl Ski Area.

Though no CU skier claimed an individual prize, the Buffs once again were littered through out the top five and 10. Including the eight events in the Nevada Invitational on Friday and Saturday, the Buffs had 29 skiers earn top 10 finishes, well ahead of the field, with that number including 14 top 5 efforts. That's the main reason the Buffaloes are a near cinch at this point to qualify a full-team of 12 skiers for the NCAA Championships. UNM also had four in the top 5.

No official team scores were kept Sunday, but had they been, Colorado, the nation's second-ranked team, topped Alaska-Anchorage 119-106 in the men's slalom, with No. 1 New Mexico third (99), while in the women's slalom, UNM bested the Buffs, 130-110, with Denver third (101). Thus, the Buffaloes and Lobos would have tied on the day with 229 points each, continuing their season long duel in alpine; Colorado's owned the edge in Nordic at this point of the season, winning three of the four meets handily over the rest of the west. Dartmouth, winner of all five eastern meets to date, and Vermont appear to be top east challengers, while defending NCAA-champion Denver and Utah are in the mix with CU and UNM in the west.

“It was a totally different animal today, everybody on their own, no team scoring, just selfishly everybody going after results and I think mission accomplished,” head coach Richard Rokos said. “Drew had a big day, he moved up more than I would've expected. Gabriel did what he has all year.

“The girls were solid,” he continued. “Katie and Carolina probably both expected more, but both have qualified. They can maybe move up in ranking, but everybody skied well so I'm happy about that.

In the men's slalom, senior Drew Roberts finished second in 1:26.61, trailing only Alaska's Andreas Adde, who won in 1:26.04. It was Roberts' second best collegiate finish?topped only by a slalom victory in the first race as a Buffalo back in the 2007 Montana State Invitational. He placed sixth in Saturday's slalom and with a higher starting spot (9th), was in third after the first run.

Junior Gabriel Rivas led the field after the first run (a 41.29 clocking), but settled for third overall in 1:26.74. Senior Stefan Hughes was 12th (1:28.15), followed by sophomore Eric Davis (14th, 1:28.71), freshman Spencer Nelson (19th, 1:29.81) and senior Arman Serebrakian (20th, 1:29.98). Soph Taggart Spenst did not finish his first run.

Three CU women finished in the top 10 in the women's slalom, led by junior Carolina Nordh, who finished fourth in 1:26.86, and Katie Hartman, who was fifth in 1:27.04. New Mexico's Malin Hemmingsson won her ninth race this winter, timed in 1:25.36, taking this one by almost a full second ahead of teammate Anne Brusletto.

Sophomore Jennifer Allen was 10th (1:29.18), with freshmen Erika Ghent right behind her in 11th (1:29.23); sophomore Joelle Chevalier was 14th (1:29.53) while freshman Khyla Burrows did not finish her first run. Another CU freshman, Sara Hjertman did not race for the second straight day due to illness.

Colorado will host the RMISA Championships in Steamboat Springs Feb. 26-27, an event that doubles as the NCAA West Regional as well as the CU Invitational/Laura Sharpe Flood Memorial. The giant slalom and classical races are set for Friday, with the freestyle races Saturday afternoon and the popular slalom races at night to conclude the event later that same day. All events will take place at Howelsen Hill, with the exception of the GS, which will be run on Mt. Werner.

“It's a quick turnaround now,” Rokos said. “We will come home and turn right around and get to Steamboat.”

RMISA Qualifier No. 2 (Slalom; no team scoring)

Men's Slalom (30 finishers)?1. Andreas Adde, UAA, 1:26.04; 2. Drew Roberts, CU, 1:26.61; 3. Gabriel Rivas, CU, 1:26.74; 4. Andreas Kilde, DU, 1:27.11; 5. Petter Brenna, UNM, 1:27.33; 6. Torjus Krogdahl, Utah, 1:27.35; 7. Max Lamb, Utah, 1:27.44; 8. Christopher Acosta, UNM, 1:27.53; 9. Grant Jampolsky, DU, 1:2.66; 10. Halfdan Falkum-Hansen, UAA, 1:28.04. Other CU Finishers: 12. Stefan Hughes, 1:28.15; 14. Eric Davis, 1:28.71; 19. Spencer Nelson, 1:29.81; 20. Arman Serebrakian, 1:29.98. Did Not Finish (1st run): Taggart Spenst.

Women's Slalom (31 finishers)?1. Malin Hemmingsson, UNM, 1:25.36; 2. Anne Brusletto, UNM, 1:26.34; 3. Lindsay Cone, DU, 1:26.55; 4. Carolina Nordh, CU, 1:26.86; 5. Katie Hartman, CU, 1:27.04; 6. Anna Kocken, Utah, 1:27.31; 7. Alexandra Parker, UAA, 1:27.93; 8. Kate Williams, UNM, 1:28.06; 9. Ida Dillingoeen, DU, 1:28.82; 10. Jennifer Allen, CU, 1:29.18. Other CU Finishers: 11. Erika Ghent, 1:29.23; 14. Joelle Chevalier, 1:29.53. Did Not Finish (1st run): Khyla Burrows.