Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
New Mexico Invitational (SL)
Shorthanded Buffs Finish Fourth At New Mexico
February 05, 2011 | Skiing
RED RIVER, N.M. - The University of Colorado ski team, operating shorthanded here this weekend, rallied Saturday thanks to stellar performances by the men's alpine and women's Nordic teams for a fourth place finish in the New Mexico Invitational.
Host New Mexico cruised to a 50point win in their own meet, as the Lobos racked up 881 total points; Utah was a distant second with 831. Alaska-Anchorage grabbed third with 735, holding off the Buffaloes as a late charge had CU earning 722 points. Montana State, Denver and Westminster rounded out the standings.
Colorado is minus seven of its top alpine performers and head coach Richard Rokos, all of whom who have been in Turkey the last two weeks competing in the World University Games (Denver also has several skiers competing). The Buffs entered the day in sixth place, well out of range of the top three spots and in danger of posting only their second finish outside the top five (126 meets) in the Rokos Era.
In the men's slalom, freshman Andreas Haug won his first race as a collegian, capturing the top spot in a two-run time of 1:35:16; he had the fastest run the first time down the hill in 45.18, followed it up with the second quickest time on the second run and went on to twin by a third of a second. It was CU's second slalom win of the season, as Gabriel Rivas won the event at the Utah Invitational.
Haug's win enabled the Buffs to finish second in the men's slalom point standings with 114, despite three top performers being in Turkey. Junior Eric Davis (1:37.34) and freshman Fletcher McDonald (1:37.53) finished ninth and 10th, respectively, to bolster Haug's effort. Sophomore Max Lamb was 27th, having to hike during his first run, but did post the ninth fastest second run (50.70) in spite of his morning troubles.
In the women's slalom, junior Jenny Allen topped CU's efforts with a ninth place showing in 1:41.82; senior Ashley Babcock took 12th in 1:42.66, while sophomore Khyla Burrows failed to finish her first run. As with the men, four of CU's top female skiers are competing in Turkey (see below). New Mexico's Anne Brusletto won in a two-run time of 1:36.97.
In the women's 10-kilometer freestyle, Utah's Maria Graefnings won for the second straight day, covering the course in a 29:27.7 time. The Buffaloes had three skiers right on the Nevada transfer's heels, with senior Alexa Turzian (30:15.5), junior Eliska Hajkova (30:17.1) and sophomore Joanne Reid (30:18.6) posted a 2-3-4 finish for Colorado, racking up 132 team points. Junior Katie Stege (24th, 33:02.5) and sophomore Mary Rose (28th, 33:58.9) completed the efforts by the CU women.
Colorado placed two in the top 10 of the men's 10K skate, with junior Ian Mallams leading the way with a 26:35.5 clocking with senior Vegard Kjoelhamar ninth in 26:38.8; Utah's Didrik Smith won the race with a 25:59.5 performance. Senior Patrick Neel (13th, 26:57.1), senior Jesper Ostensen (14th, 26:58.5) and freshman Andreas Hoye (25th, 28:52.0) rounded out the CU men for the day.
WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES: In Erzurum, Turkey, Colorado skiers posted some impressive finishes Saturday in the women's slalom, led by sophomore Erika Ghent, who finished ninth in 1:47.77; she placed third among all the USA skiers, as Sterling Grant from Denver won in a 1:44.28 time. Junior Sara Hjertman claimed 11th in 1:48.14 and senior Carolina Nordh was 12th in 1:48.25 as the duo placed 1-2 among all skiers from Sweden. Freshman Kirsten Cooper did not finish her second run. The games conclude on Sunday with the men's slalom and the closing ceremonies.
New Mexico Invitational Team Scores (Final; 8 events)-1. New Mexico 881; 2. Utah 831; 3. Alaska-Anchorage 735; 4. Colorado 722; 5. Montana State 707; 6. Denver 673; 7. Westminster 196.
Men's 10k Freestyle (26 finishers)-1. Didrik Smith, Utah, 25:59.5; 2. Ryan Scott, MSU, 26:15.9; 3. Martin Kaas, UNM, 26:22.1; 4. Markus Moe, DU, 26:28.4; 5 (tie). Bernhard Roenning, MSU, and Tom Smith, Utah, 26:29.5; 7. Trygve Markset, DU, 26:30.4; 8. Ian Mallams, CU, 26:35.5; 9. Vegard Kjoelhamar, CU, 26:38.8; 10. Ian Havlick, Utah, 26:39.9. Other CU Finishers: 13. Patrick Neel, 26:57.1; 14. Jesper Ostensen, CU, 26:58.5; 25. Andreas Hoye, 28:52.0.
Women's 10k Freestyle (31 finishers)- 1. Maria Graefnings, Utah, 29:27.7; 2. Alexa Turzian, CU, 30:15.5; 3. Eliska Hajkova, CU, 30;17.1; 4. Joanne Reid, CU, 30:18.6; 5. Kate Dolan, DU, 30:21.7; 6. Mari Elden, DU, 30:42.8; 7. Martine Weng, UNM, 30:56.1; 8. Jamie Bronga, UAA, 31:09.8; 9. Laura Rombach, UAA, 31:13.9; 10. Stephanie Hiemer, UAA, 31:27.8. Other CU Finishers: 24. Katie Stege, 33:02.5; 28. Mary Rose, 33:58.9.
Men's Slalom (27 finishers)-1. Andreas Haug, CU, 1:35.16; 2. Petter Brenna, UNM, 1:35.49; 3. Torjus Krogdahl, Utah, 1:35.90; 4. Juho-Pekka Penttinen, UNM, 1:35.93; 5. Chriss Salbu, UNM, 1:36.12; 6. Andreas Adde, UAA, 1:36.39; 7. Armin Triendl, UNM, 1:36.77; 8. Ryan Wilson, Utah, 1:36.98; 9. Eric Davis, CU, 1:37.34; 10. Fletcher McDonald, CU, 1:37.53. Other CU Finishers: 23. *Peter Zagone, 1:48.09; 27. Max Lamb, 2:17.75 (*-CU development team member).
Women's Slalom (20 finishers)-1. Anne Brusletto, UNM, 1:36.97; 2. Tia-Maria Romar, DU, 1:38.49; 3. Kayla Fry, UAA, 1:38.55; 4. Anna Kocken, UU, 1:39.10; 5. Kate Williams, UNM, 1:39.95; 6. Stefanie Demetz, UNM, 1:40.35; 7. Georgia Wettlaufer, DU, 1:41.28; 8. Jenny Allen, CU, 1:41.82; 9. Ida Bjerka, UAA, 1:42.02; 10. Marissa Riopelle, MSU. 1:42.11. Other CU Finishers: 12. Ashley Babcock, 1:42.66. Did Not Finish (1st run): Khyla Burrows.
