Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Utah Invitational (SL)
Colorado Opens 2016 Season In Second At Utah Invitational
January 04, 2016 | Skiing
PARK CITY, Utah – The defending national champion University of Colorado ski team opened the 2016 season Monday along with its counterparts in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association. The Buffs sit in second place after the men's and women's slalom races here at Park City Mountain Resort.
Denver leads the way with 186 points and holds a 37 point lead over the Buffaloes total of 149. Westminster College is third with 147 points, followed by Montana State (119), host Utah (112), New Mexico (104), Alaska Anchorage (87) and Colorado Mountain College (19).
The Buffs were led by freshmen in both races with Ola Johansen taking second place in the men's race in a time of 1:57.38, just over a half-second behind Denver's Erik Read (1:56.86). In the women's race, freshman Tonje Truslrud sat in 17th after the first run and had the fastest second run in the field to move all the way up to fourth place in a two-run time of 1:35.53.
Aside from being led by freshman, the men's and women's races were also similar in that the Buffs second finisher in both races was a fifth-year senior and both also brought home top 10 finishes. Senior Adam Zika took 10th in the men's race in a time of 1:59.69 and senior Thea Grosvold was eighth in the women's race in a time of 1:35.89.
In the men's race, CU third scorer for the team was freshman Max Luukko, who was one spot behind Zika in 11th place in 1:59.88. The men's team scored 78 points, second most in the field, and was seven points behind Denver's total of 85 points.
Senior Kasper Hietanen finished 20th, junior Roger Carry was 21st and senior Cameron Smith was 23rd for the Buffaloes. Senior Henrik Gunnarsson didn't finish the first run.
In the women's race, CU's third team scorer was senior Jessica Honkonen, who finished 14th in a time of 1:36.44. The women's team racked up 71 points, 30 behind DU's total of 101 and one ahead of New Mexico's total of 70. Junior Katie Hostetler finished 24th and senior Clare Wise finished 31st. Freshman Nora Christensen didn't finish her second run after hiking on her first run.
The Utah Invitational continues Tuesday with the women's giant slalom race and then the alpine portion of the race Wednesday with the men's giant slalom races. The Utah Invitational will conclude Jan. 11-12 with the Nordic races at Soldier Hollow, the same time the alpine teams continue their season at the Montana State Invitational.
Team Scores – 1. Denver 186; 2. Colorado 149; 3. Westminster 147; 4. Montana State 119; 5. Utah 114; 6. New Mexico 104; 7. Alaska Anchorage 87; 8. Colorado Mountain 19.
Men's Slalom (35 College Finishers)—1. Erik Read, DU, 1:56.86; 2. Ola Johansen, CU, 1:57.38; 3. Giulio Bosca, WMC, 1:57.78; 4. Tim Lindgren, WMC, 1:58.11; 5. Garret Driller, MSU, 1:58.62; 6. David Neuhauser, MSU, 1:59.42; 7. Jonas Nyberg, WMC, 1:59.53; 8. Sebastian Brigovic, DU, 1:59.64; 9. Taylor Shiffrin, DU, 1:59.66; 10. Adam Zika, CU, 1:59.69. Other CU Finishers: 11. Max Luukko, 1:59.88; 20. Kasper Hietanen, 2:02.09; 21. Roger Carry, 2:02.52; 23. Cameron Smith, 2:06.09. Did Not Finish (First Run): Henrik Gunnarsson.
Women's Slalom (33 College Finishers)—1. Kristine Haugen, DU, 1:33.72; 2. Julie Mohagan, UU, 1:34.41; 3. Tuva Norbye, DU, 1:35.37; 4.Tonje Truslrud, CU, 1:35.53; 5. Karoline Myklebust, UNM, 1:35.68; 6. Monica Huebner, DU, 1:35.75; 7. Sydney Staples, UNM, 1:35.78; 8. Thea Grosvold, CU, 1;35.89; 9. Benedicte Lyche, MSU, 1:36.17; 10. Chloe Fausa, UU, 1:36.20. Other CU Finishers: 14. Jessica Honkonen, 1:36.44; 24. Katie Hostetler, 1:47.14; 31. Clare Wise, 2:05.21. Did Not Finish (Second Run): Nora Christensen.
