Ketterer, Luukko Finish Top 5 in Giant Slalom Friday

Friday, January 13

Snowbasin, Utah

All Day

Colorado

Utah Invitational (MGS)

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

January 13, 2017 | Skiing

Utah Invitational Men's Giant Slalom Results

Colorado holds a four-point lead over the Utes heading into the final day of the Utah Invitational

By: Jason Clay, Associate SID

SNOWBASIN, Utah – The University of Colorado men's alpine team placed two in the top five in Fridays running of the giant slalom at the Utah Invitation being held here at Snowbasin Resort.

CU freshman David Ketterer earned his first career podium finish in a giant slalom race, placing second on Friday. Sophomore Max Luukko was close behind in fifth. Those top five finishes, along with a 19^th-place showing from freshman Bobby Moyer, helped Colorado finish in third in Friday's giant slalom with 81 points. Montana State won the men's giant slalom with 90 team points and was followed by Utah with 83, just ahead of CU.

The Buffs did so being shorthanded on Friday. CU was missing sophomore Ola Johansen, who already had two podium finishes this season in the giant slalom, because of injury. Then senior Roger Carry did not finish his first run, one of 20 competitors not to finish with Friday's tough skiing conditions.

"Pretty much all we can do right now because we have a small team," head coach Richard Rokos said. "We are still staying in touch with the top of the field and we'll see tomorrow."

Ketterer's two-run time of 2:17.79 was just off of Utah's Samuel Dupratt, who took first place in the event with his time of 2:17.51. Luukko, who already finished second and third in the two other giant slalom races during last week's opening weekend, came in fifth with his total time of 2:18.36.

"That's their potential and what they do on a normal given day, so that was anticipated," Rokos said speaking of Ketterer and Luukko.

Moyer recorded his first career top 20 finish on the day. After the first run he ranked 25^th in the field of 67, but his second-run time of 1:07.63 was the eighth-fastest on run two. That helped jolt him up into the top 20 with a two-run time of 2:20.49.

"A very positive sign is that Bobby is gaining confidence and coming back after his injury," Rokos said, referring to an injury that limited his training in the fall.

After 6-of-8 events in the Utah Invitational, Colorado holds a four-point lead over Utah heading into the final day. Saturday's action will see both men's and women's slalom races and live scoring for them both is available at http://ussalivetiming.com.

Utah Invitational (6 of 8 events)— 1. Colorado 455; 2. Utah 451; 3. Denver 439; 4. New Mexico 369; 5. Montana State 325; 6. Alaska Anchorage 308; 7. Alaska Fairbanks 252; 8. Wyoming 104; 9. Westminster 96; 10. Colorado Mountain College 24

Men's Giant Slalom Team Scores—1. Montana State 90; 2. Utah 83; 3. Colorado 81; 4. Denver 62; 5. New Mexico 56; 6. Alaska Anchorage 46; 7. Westminster 36; Colorado Mountain College 24

Men's Giant Slalom (36 collegiate finishers)—1. Samuel Dupratt, Utah, 2:17.51; 2. David Ketterer, CU, 2:17.79; 3. Addison Dvoracek, MSU, 2:17.82; 4. David Neuhauser, MSU, 2:18.35; 5. Max Luukko, CU, 2:18.36; 6. Vegard Busengdal, UNM, 2:18.66; 7. Morten Bakke, MSU, 2:18.95, 8. Endre Bjertness, Utah, 2:19.04; 9. Jeffrey Bell, MSU, 2:19.09; 10. Alex Leever, DU, 2:19.12 Other CU Finishers: 19. Bobby Moyer 2:20.49; Roger Carry DNF(1).