Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Seawolf Invitational (GS)
CU SKIING: Buffs Hold Second In UAA Seawolf Invite
February 09, 2012 | Skiing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Rain in Alaska in February. It happens on occasion, and it was enough to wreak some havoc on the first day of the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolf Invitational, one of two meets being run concurrently here this week.
After delays and cancellations, the defending national champion University of Colorado ski team sits in second place through three events, enjoying a solid day in Nordic competition and basically surviving on the alpine side.
Utah, ranked No. 1 in the latest national poll, owns the lead with 356 points, followed by Colorado (313) and host Alaska (297). The Utes also lead the Buffaloes in the Alaska Invitational, which will finish on Friday with the slalom races. Utah and Colorado, ranked No. 3 (Vermont is No. 2), finished 1-2 in the first two competitions of the winter last month.
Because of the rain that persisted most of Wednesday and mile temperatures overnight causing about a six inch crust of snow that started to break more as the day wore on. The coaches decided to cancel the second run of the women's giant slalom and called off the men's race with still about two-thirds of the field yet to start their first runs. Thus by rule, the women's first run will count for the total team scoring, while Saturday's men's slalom race will be doubled to account for the men's GS team points.
"The Nordics had another fine day, despite missing one of our best guys," head coach Richard Rokos said. "Plus we are nowhere near peaking yet. It was just one of those days in alpine; rarely have we had three DNF's (did not finish) in one discipline, so that was an aberration. I was a little disappointed they didn't cancel the races earlier in the day. We'll be fine." CU had three of its six women record DNF's.
Behind the sixth career win from senior Eliska Hajkova and runner-up finishes from junior Joanne Reid and freshman Rune Oedegaard in the freestyle races, CU's cross country teams edged Utah, 227-221, with Montana State hanging in with 209.
"We thought it was going to be a little warmer, but we had some good weather," CU Nordic coach Bruce Cranmer said. "We've been lucky, way more so than alpine. It was warm, right around freezing, and the course was in great shape."
Hajkova captured the 5K in 13:52.4, besting her teammate by just over 20 seconds, and Reid completed the track in 14:12.8. CU's third scorer was junior Mary Rose, who was 20th in 15:22.5, while senior Katie Stege (27th, 15:57.5) and freshman Marianne Madsen (30th, 16:17.8) accounted for the other results by the Buff women.
"We switched things up seeding wise and we had Joanne go last," Cranmer said. "Not for any tactical reason, but because of that Eliska had a little less of an idea of where she was time-wise. She put the hammer down and had a good day. Joanne was running tight with a couple of girls and really broke out at the end of her race.
Montana State's David Norris won the men's 10K version by almost 14 seconds, as he was timed in 24:28.6 compared to Oedegaard's 24:42.5. Utah's Miles Havlick was third in 24:47.5, ahead of the fourth through 15th finishers, all crossing the finish line just 47 seconds apart. Wedged in the middle of that group was CU sophomore Andreas Hoye, finishing eighth in 25:26.9.
"Rune felt good, better than the other day and I think he's satisfied with his results," Cranmer said. "Norris is skiing very strong right now. "Andreas has been putting himself in good position and now has two top 10 freestyle finishes, so that is great news for him."
Junior Ian Mallams was the third scorer on the men's side, clocked in 23:53.1 in placing 13th. Freshman Arnaud DePasquier had one of his best races of the winter, placing 15th (25:59.3), with senior Reid Pletcher rounding out the Buff contingent (16th, 26:17.3). The Buffs are competing here without one of their top men's performers, as senior Vegard Kjoelhamar is sick and remained home in Boulder.
"Ian is kind of knocking at the door, too, and ready to break through," Cramer noted. "Reid wasn't as good as he or I would've liked today. I think he's been training so much since he got cleared (after injury) that he needs to take a break and recover a little and let that training absorb, so he can get back to training in order to go faster."
In the women's giant slalom, the field completed the first run before the second was called off; it was basically a near-disaster for the Buffaloes, as three skiers did not finish, seniors Katie Hartman and Jennifer Allen and freshman Shane McLean, who won Wednesday's event in the Alaska invite.
Seniors Erika Ghent (fifth, 1:03.87) and Carolina Nordh (16th, 1:08.11), along with junior Khyla Burrows (23rd. 1:09.17) did manage to complete their runs, netting the Buffs 86 team points. Utah's Jaime DuPratt was declared the winner in 1:03.00, pacing three Utes in the top four (and four in the top eight), earning 135 team points in the process.
In the men's GS, only 22 of the 60-plus skiers in the field made their first runs before the race was cancelled; CU freshman Adam Zika had the fastest run of 48.37, one of three Buffaloes that completed their runs.
The Alaska Invitational concludes Friday with the slalom competition; the Seawolf Invitational continues with the classical races, the longest to date of the winter.
"It is our first 15 and 20K of the year, so it will be fun and a good opportunity to see where everybody is at on a hard course at NCAA distances," Cranmer said. "We've been here quite a while and four races in seven days is kind of like a mini-tour. But it should be a good weather day, stable conditions, so it shouldn't be a crazy wax day."
With the race cancellation, there will be an extra day of qualifier races ahead of the RMISA Championships in Montana State. The slalom qualifier race that was scheduled for Thursday will take place Wednesday with the extra giant slalom races taking place Thursday.
"We will now gear up for slalom races and hopefully have more luck with the weather," Rokos said. "Hopefully tonight it freezes and makes the snow a little more consistent."
UAA Seawolf Invitational (3 events)- 1. Utah 356; 2. Colorado 313; 3. Alaska 297; 4. Montana State 282; 5. New Mexico 265; 6. Denver 249; 7. Westminster 71.
Men's 10K Freestyle (27 collegiate finishers)- 1. David Norris, MSU, 24:28.6; 2. Rune Oedegaard, CU, 24:42.5; 3. Miles Havlick, Utah, 24:47.5; 4. Andrew Dougherty, DU, 25:12.9; 5. Tyler Reinking, MSU, 25:19.1; 6. Didrik Smith, Utah, 25:20.2; 7. Rolf Figi, Utah, 25:23.4; 8. Andreas Hoye, CU, 25:26.9; 9. Lukas Ebner, UAA, 25:29.3; 10. Michael Schallinger, MSU, 25:44.4. Other CU Finishers: 13. Ian Mallams, 25:53.1; 15. Arnaud De Pasquier, 25:59.3; 16. Reid Pletcher, 26:17.3.
Women's 5K Freestyle (30 collegiate finishers)- 1. Eliska Hajkova, CU, 13:52.5; 2. Joanne Reid, CU, 14:12.8; 3. Jaime Bronga, UAA, 14:18.8; 4. Clara Chauvet, UNM, 14:21.5; 5. Maria Graefnings, Utah, 14:30.6; 6. Linn Klaesson, UNM, 14:31.0; 7. Rose Kemp, Utah, 14:32.9; 8. Ase Carlson, MSU, 14:37.1; 9. Parker Tyler, Utah, 14:41.4; 10. Jessica Yeaton, MSU, 14:46.0. Other CU Finishers: 20. Mary Rose, 15:22.5; 27. Katie Stege, 15:57.5; 30. Marianne Madsen, 16:17.8.
Women's Giant Slalom (29 collegiate finishers)- 1. Jamie DuPratt, UU, 1:03.00; 2. Anais Urbain, UAA, 1:03.44; 3. Julie Bordeau, UU, 1:03.73; 4. Tii-Maria Romar, UU, 1:03.81; 5. Erika Ghent, CU, 1:03.87; 6. Devin Delaney, DU, 1:04.28; 7. Alex Parker, UAA, 1:04.58; 8. Anna Kocken, UU, 1:04.63; 9. Vanessa Berther, UAA, 1:05.05; 10. Stefanie Demetz, UNM, 1:05.11. Other CU Results: 16. Carolina Nordh, 1:08.11; 23. Khyla Burrows, 1:09.17. Did Not Finish: Jennifer Allen (1st run), Katie Hartman (1st run), Shane McLean (1st run).
