Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
RMISA Alpine Qualifier (GS)
Johansen, Honkonen Impress At RMISA Qualifier
January 09, 2016 | Skiing
BIG SKY, Mont. – The University of Colorado had an all-around impressive performance Saturday for the RMISA Alpine Qualifier giant slalom race held here at Big Sky Resort ahead of the Montana State Invitational. The CU men dominated the race with three in the top six and six in the top 17, while the women were led by Jessica Honkonen's fourth place finish.
There is no team scoring for the RMISA Qualifiers, but had there been, the Buffs would have won the men's race with 90 points, seven head of Westminster. The women would have finished third with 73 points.
"The conditions were excellent today," CU coach Richard Rokos said. "It was very well groomed and was hard packed, making it one of the best races in a long time."
Freshman Ola Johansen continued the stellar start to his career, hitting the podium for the third time in three races, taking third in a time of 2:05.97. Two spots behind him in fifth place was fellow freshman Max Luukko in a time of 2:06.40, followed immediately in sixth place by junior Roger Carry in a time of 2:07.26.
"Most of the guys improved their times in the second run," Rokos said. "Five or six getting top finishes in such a loaded field is a great accomplishment and good sign for an upcoming competitions. They all finsihed wihtout any major mistakes."
Johansen became the first men's alpine skier to record three straight podium appearances since Gabriel Rivas did so near the end of the 2010 season, when he won the GS and then took second and third in slalom races at the Nevada Invitational. He's the first skier to begin both a season and career with three straight podiums since Stefan Hughes did so in 2007. Hughes and Johansen are the only two men's alpine skiers to get three straight podiums at the start of either a career or season in the 26-year Richard Rokos-era.
Junior Cameron Smith also took home a top 10 finish in 10th in a tie of 2:07.59 with Henrik Gunnarsson was 14th in 2:07.73 and Adam Zika 17th in 2:08.16, giving the Buffs more than a third of the top 17 with six skiers in that range. Junior Kasper Hietanen rounded out the men's scoring and finished 28th in 2:10.16.
Honkonen took fourth place in a time of 2:10.37, just over a second off the lead and just 21-hundredths of a second off the podium. It was Honkonen's 10th top 10 in GS races in her career and second-highest finish behind a fourth place showing at last year's RMISA Championships. Senior
"Jessica's finish came as nice frosting on a good day," Rokos said. "Tonje had a bit of back luck. She crashed in the first run. But the rest of the team had faster second runs, which is a good sign of improved confidence."
Thea Grosvold was 15th for the Buffs in 2:11.97 while freshman Nora Christiansen took 18th in 2:12.23 and junior Katie Hostetler took 20th in 2:12.93. For Hostetler, it matched her second-best career finish and was her third career top 20 finish, all in GS races.
Senior Clare Wise was 24th in 2:13.93 and freshman Tonje Trulsrud did not start the second run.
The Buffs will return to Big Sky Sunday for another giant slalom race as the Montana State Invitational gets underway. The alpine portion of the MSU meet will conclude Monday with the slalom races. The Nordic teams, meanwhile, will kick off their season Sunday at the Utah Invitational and that meet will conclude Monday, as well.
"Everybody is healthy and in good spirits," Rokos said. "We are looking forward to another GS race tomorrow in the MSU Invitational."
Men's Giant Slalom (39 collegiate finishers)—1. Erik Read, DU, 2:05.66; 2. Giulio Bosca, WMC, 2:05.74; 3. Ola Johansen, CU, 2:05.97; 4. Endre Bjertness, UU, 2:06.18; 5. Max Luukko, CU, 2:06.40; 6. Roger Carry, CU, 2:07.26; 7. Tim Lindgren, WMC, 2:07.27; 8. Martin Grasic, UU, 2:07.47; 9. Ty Sprock, UU, 2:07.55; 10. Cameron Smith, CU, 2:07.59. Other CU Finishers: 14. Henrik Gunnarsson, 2:07.73; 17. Adam Zika, 2:08.16; Kasper Hietanen, 2:10.16.
Women's Giant Slalom (34 collegiate finishers)—1. Chloe Fausa, UU, 2:09.34; 2. Julie Mohagen, UU, 2:09.39; 3. Ann Bruening, WMC, 2:10.16; 4. Jessica Honkonen, CU, 2:10.37; 5. Marie Aufrere, WMC, 2:10.38; 6. Roni Remme, UU, 2:10.44; 7. Charley Field, UAA, 2:10.61; 8. Tuva Norbye, 2:10.89; 9. Teagen Palmer, UU, 2:11.18; 10. Sydney Staples, UNM, 2:11.21. Other CU Finishers: 15. Thea Grosvold, 2:11.97; 17. Nora Christensen, 2:12.23; 20. Katie Hostetler, 2:12.93; 24. Clare Wise, 2:13.93. Did Not Start (Second Run): Tonje Trulsrud.
