Friday, February 1
Red River, NM
All Day
Colorado
vs
Slalom/Classical (7.5/7.5K)
Buffs Take Lead At New Mexico Invitational
February 01, 2019 | Skiing
RED RIVER, N.M.—A women's Nordic sweep, two race wins and nine total top 10 performances fueled the University of Colorado ski team to a lead at the midpoint of the New Mexico Invitational here at Red River Ski Area and Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area.
Junior Anne Siri Lervik and senior Alvar Alev both won the classic races while sophomore Hedda Baangman (second) and freshman Ezra Smith (third) gave the Buffs a sweep of the 7.5K women's race, the first race sweep for any team in the RMISA this season. Senior Christina Rolandsen gave the Buffs four in top six of the women's race. On the men's side, freshman Wyatt Gebhardt (sixth) and freshman Erik Dengerud (seventh) both earned top 10 finishes while sophomore Sondre Bollum (11th) and junior Andrew Potyk (12th) gave the Buffs five in the top 12.
Senior Nora Christensen earned her eighth career podium with a runner-up in the women's slalom race and freshman Stef Fleckenstein took eighth to offset some struggles in the men's race.
TEAM: The Buffs earned a maximum score of 111 points in the women's Nordic race and won the men's Nordic race with 92 points en route to a team score of 302 points through four of eight races. The Buffs are up by 21.5 points over second place Utah (280.5) while Montana State sits third iwth 274 points and host New Mexico is fourth with 268. Denver rounds out the top five with 261 points.
NORDIC WOMEN: Anne Siri Lervik won the women's 7.5K classic race in a time of 29:00.7 to earn her first career collegiate victory. She had the fifth fastest first lap around the 2.5K course but then turned on the jets and had the fastest second and third laps to take the win. She beat out Hedda Baangman by 13.0 seconds (29:13.7). Baangman had the fastest first lap in the field and followed that up with the third fastest second lap and second fastest final lap to earn the podium.. Freshman Ezra Smith earned her first career podium in third place in a time of 29:26.0. Smith was in the top three on all of her split times. Christina Rolandsen gave the Buffs four in the top six with her time of 30:21.5. Sophomore Quinn Lehmkuhl finished 22nd in a time of 33:01.3.
NORDIC MEN: Alvar Alev earned his third career victory by winning the 7.5K men's classic race in a time of 25:10.9 by just 6.5 seconds over second place Sigurd Roenning of Alaska-Anchorage. Just like Lervik, Alev had the fifth fastest first lap but then led the pack on the second and third laps to take the victory. Wyatt Gebhardt had the best finish of his young career in sixth place in a tim of 25:54.4. He had the second-fastest final lap to move up for spots from 10th to sixth for the Buffs. Erik Dengerud was the Buffs third scorer in seventh place in a time of 25:54.6, his third top 10 of the season. Sondre Bollum took 11th in a time of 26:25.2 and junior Andrew Potyk was 12th in 26:34.3 for the second best finish of his career, giving the Buffs five skiers in the top 12. Freshman Tyler Terranova had the best finish of his career, taking 22nd in a time of 27:31.7.
ALPINE WOMEN: Christensen's second place finish came in a time of 1:32.99, just 13-hundredths behind race winner Amelia Smart of Denver. Christensen earned her second straight podium and best finish of the season, and her eighth career podium appearance. Stef Fleckenstein's eighth place finish came in a time of 1:34.37. She sat in 16th after the first run but moved up eight spots on the strength of the fifth-fastest second run. It's the best finish of her young career and third top 10 of the season. Junior Andrea Arnold finished 17th in a time of 1:36.41 to round out the team scoring for the Buffs while freshman Kaitlyn Harsch took 21st in 1:36.99. Freshman Olivia Gerrard did not finish her first run.
The women's squad is without the services of Mikaela Tommy, who is participating in the World Cup at Maribor, Slovakia. She skied in the GS race there Friday, not finishing her first run. Megan McGrew and Isabelle Fidjeland are still out due to injury.
ALPINE MEN: The men's team struggled Friday with all five members participating either not finishing or having to hike. The Buffs top finisher was senior Max Luukko in 27th place in 1:32.62. Sophomore Joey Young finished 31st in a time of 1:43.67. Freshman Teddy Takki was disqualified on his first run while junior Bobby Moyer didn't finish his second run and freshman Max Bervy was DQ'd in the second run.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs literally had the highest of highs, earning maximum points in women's Nordic, and the lowest of lows, scoring the fewest points in the men's slalom race. The good news is the Buffs are still leading despite that fact due to the depth of the other teams. The men's alpine team, which has recorded 11 top 10 finishes on the season, will be boosted when freshman Filip Forejtek returns to action. The women's team will also be boosted with Tommy's return.
NOTEWORTHY: The sweep of the women's Nordic race is the first podium sweep in the RMISA this season. It's the first podium sweep for the Buffs since the men's alpine team swept the podium here at New Mexico in 2016 and the first sweep for women's Nordic since 2013 when the Buffs swept the podium at the RMISA Championships. Lervik won her first career race and recorded her seventh career podium appearance. She has finished in the top 10 in all five races this season. Baangman's second place finish is the eighth career podium for her and fourth of the season in four races. She has finished first or second in all three classic races this season. Smith earned her first career podium in third place, also marking her first career top five finish and second top 10. Rolandsen's sixth place finish is her 28th career top 10 finish and she has finished between fifth and ninth in all five races this season. Alev's win is the third of his career and first of the season. He broke out of a mini slump of sorts, earning his first top five and first podium of the season. It's his sixth career podium and eighth top five finish. Gebhardt's sixth place finish is his best finish of his career and his first top 10 finish in a classic race. Christensen earned her second straight podium and her second place finish is the best of the season. She earned her eighth career podium finish. Fleckenstein had her best career finish in eighth place and it's her first top 10 in a slalom race to go with two other top 10s in GS races this season, both ninth place finishes.
QUOTEWORTHY:
RIchard Rokos: "On the Nordic side, I hope this is how it will look for the rest of the season. The women with three experienced skiers and the rookie of the year (Ezra Smith), her performance has been fabulous and makes me feel good for the next three or four years. The guys did well, too, and they obviously hit the wax and the conditioning is where it should be."
"Nora was consistent in slalom this year and she deserves to wear the leader bib. Stef's returning from an injury and gaining good confidence and is slowly returning to her potential. The guys are still going through some tough times. When you say it can't get any worse - which I thought it couldn't earlier this season - there is always an opportunity to do worse. Tomorrow is another day, and we will figure it out."
UP NEXT: The second half of the New Mexico Invitational will take place Saturday with another set of slalom races on the alpine side and the 5K freestyle races on the Nordic side.
NEW MEXICO INVITATIONAL TEAM RESULTS (through 4 of 8 events)—1. Colorado 302; 2. Utah 280.5; 3. Montana State 274; 4. New Mexico 268; 5. Denver 261; 6. Alaska Anchorage 209.5; 7. Alaska Fairbanks 100; 8. Westminster 51; 9. Colorado Mountain 39.
WOMEN'S 7.5K CLASSIC (23 collegiate finishers)—1. Anne Siri Lervik, CU, 29:00.7; 2. Hedda Baangman, CU, 29:13.7; 3. Ezra Smith, CU, 29:26.0; 4. Julia Richter, UU, 29:54.9; 5. Kathleen O'Connell, MSU, 30:20.5; 6. Christina Rolandsen, CU, 30:21.5; 7. Taeler McCrerey, DU, 30:30.5; 8. Leah Lange, UU, 30:31.7; 9. Emma Tarbath, MSU, 30:32.4; 10. Anna Fake, MSU, 31:07.0. Other CU Finishers: 22. Quinn Lehmkuhl, 33:01.3.
MEN'S 7.5K CLASSIC (33 collegiate finishers)—1. Alvar Alev, CU, 25:10.9; 2. Sigurd Roenning, UAA, 25:17.4; 3. Ola Jordheim, UU, 25:46.3; 4. Eli Jensen, MSU, 25:52.5; 5. Bjorn Riksaasen, UU, 25:53.4; 6. Wyatt Gebhardt, CU, 25:54.4; 7. Erik Dengerud, CU, 25:54.6; 8. Logan Kiekman, UU, 26:05.1; 9. Kornelius Grov, UNM, 26:08.0; 10. Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier, UNM, 26:21.6. Other CU Finishers: 11. Sondre Bollum, 26:25.2; 12. Andrew Potyk, 26:34.3; 22. Tyler Terranova, 27:31.7.
MEN'S SLALOM (31 collegiate finishers)—1. Simon Fournier, DU, 1:26.47; 2. Vegard Busengdal, UNM, 1:27.16; 3. Jett Seymour, DU, 1:27.28; 4. Mark Engel, UU, 1:27.30; 5. Tobias Kogler, DU, 1:27.31; 6. Olav Sanderberg, UNM, 1:27.38; 7. Alex Barounos, UNM, 1:27.39; 8. Aage Solheim, MSU, 1:27.45; 9. Zak Vinter, MSU, 1:27.47; 10. Addison Dvoracek, UU, 1:27.53. CU Finishers: 27. Max Luukko, 1:32.62; 31. Joey Young, 1:43.67. Disqualified (first run): Teddy Takki. Did Not Finish (Second Run): Bobby Moyer. Disqualified (Second Run): Max Bervy.
WOMEN'S SLALOM (28 collegiate finishers)—1. Amelia Smart, DU, 1:32.86; 2. Nora Christensen, CU, 1:33.00; 3. Sona Moravcikova, UNM, 1:33.29; 4. Jocelyn McCarthy, MSU, 1:33.42; 5. Stephanie Gartner, MSU, 1:33.44; 6. Eirin Engeset, UU, 1:33.70; 7. Rebecca Fiegl, UNM, 1:33.91; 8. Stef Fleckenstein, CU, 1:34.38; 9. Kaitlyn Vesterstein, UU, 1:34.54; 10. Tuva Norbye, DU, 1:34.64. Other CU Finishers: 17. Andrea Arnold, 1:36.41; 21. Kaitlyn Harsch, 1:36.99. Did Not Finish (First Run): Olivia Gerrard.
Junior Anne Siri Lervik and senior Alvar Alev both won the classic races while sophomore Hedda Baangman (second) and freshman Ezra Smith (third) gave the Buffs a sweep of the 7.5K women's race, the first race sweep for any team in the RMISA this season. Senior Christina Rolandsen gave the Buffs four in top six of the women's race. On the men's side, freshman Wyatt Gebhardt (sixth) and freshman Erik Dengerud (seventh) both earned top 10 finishes while sophomore Sondre Bollum (11th) and junior Andrew Potyk (12th) gave the Buffs five in the top 12.
Senior Nora Christensen earned her eighth career podium with a runner-up in the women's slalom race and freshman Stef Fleckenstein took eighth to offset some struggles in the men's race.
TEAM: The Buffs earned a maximum score of 111 points in the women's Nordic race and won the men's Nordic race with 92 points en route to a team score of 302 points through four of eight races. The Buffs are up by 21.5 points over second place Utah (280.5) while Montana State sits third iwth 274 points and host New Mexico is fourth with 268. Denver rounds out the top five with 261 points.
NORDIC WOMEN: Anne Siri Lervik won the women's 7.5K classic race in a time of 29:00.7 to earn her first career collegiate victory. She had the fifth fastest first lap around the 2.5K course but then turned on the jets and had the fastest second and third laps to take the win. She beat out Hedda Baangman by 13.0 seconds (29:13.7). Baangman had the fastest first lap in the field and followed that up with the third fastest second lap and second fastest final lap to earn the podium.. Freshman Ezra Smith earned her first career podium in third place in a time of 29:26.0. Smith was in the top three on all of her split times. Christina Rolandsen gave the Buffs four in the top six with her time of 30:21.5. Sophomore Quinn Lehmkuhl finished 22nd in a time of 33:01.3.
NORDIC MEN: Alvar Alev earned his third career victory by winning the 7.5K men's classic race in a time of 25:10.9 by just 6.5 seconds over second place Sigurd Roenning of Alaska-Anchorage. Just like Lervik, Alev had the fifth fastest first lap but then led the pack on the second and third laps to take the victory. Wyatt Gebhardt had the best finish of his young career in sixth place in a tim of 25:54.4. He had the second-fastest final lap to move up for spots from 10th to sixth for the Buffs. Erik Dengerud was the Buffs third scorer in seventh place in a time of 25:54.6, his third top 10 of the season. Sondre Bollum took 11th in a time of 26:25.2 and junior Andrew Potyk was 12th in 26:34.3 for the second best finish of his career, giving the Buffs five skiers in the top 12. Freshman Tyler Terranova had the best finish of his career, taking 22nd in a time of 27:31.7.
ALPINE WOMEN: Christensen's second place finish came in a time of 1:32.99, just 13-hundredths behind race winner Amelia Smart of Denver. Christensen earned her second straight podium and best finish of the season, and her eighth career podium appearance. Stef Fleckenstein's eighth place finish came in a time of 1:34.37. She sat in 16th after the first run but moved up eight spots on the strength of the fifth-fastest second run. It's the best finish of her young career and third top 10 of the season. Junior Andrea Arnold finished 17th in a time of 1:36.41 to round out the team scoring for the Buffs while freshman Kaitlyn Harsch took 21st in 1:36.99. Freshman Olivia Gerrard did not finish her first run.
The women's squad is without the services of Mikaela Tommy, who is participating in the World Cup at Maribor, Slovakia. She skied in the GS race there Friday, not finishing her first run. Megan McGrew and Isabelle Fidjeland are still out due to injury.
ALPINE MEN: The men's team struggled Friday with all five members participating either not finishing or having to hike. The Buffs top finisher was senior Max Luukko in 27th place in 1:32.62. Sophomore Joey Young finished 31st in a time of 1:43.67. Freshman Teddy Takki was disqualified on his first run while junior Bobby Moyer didn't finish his second run and freshman Max Bervy was DQ'd in the second run.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs literally had the highest of highs, earning maximum points in women's Nordic, and the lowest of lows, scoring the fewest points in the men's slalom race. The good news is the Buffs are still leading despite that fact due to the depth of the other teams. The men's alpine team, which has recorded 11 top 10 finishes on the season, will be boosted when freshman Filip Forejtek returns to action. The women's team will also be boosted with Tommy's return.
NOTEWORTHY: The sweep of the women's Nordic race is the first podium sweep in the RMISA this season. It's the first podium sweep for the Buffs since the men's alpine team swept the podium here at New Mexico in 2016 and the first sweep for women's Nordic since 2013 when the Buffs swept the podium at the RMISA Championships. Lervik won her first career race and recorded her seventh career podium appearance. She has finished in the top 10 in all five races this season. Baangman's second place finish is the eighth career podium for her and fourth of the season in four races. She has finished first or second in all three classic races this season. Smith earned her first career podium in third place, also marking her first career top five finish and second top 10. Rolandsen's sixth place finish is her 28th career top 10 finish and she has finished between fifth and ninth in all five races this season. Alev's win is the third of his career and first of the season. He broke out of a mini slump of sorts, earning his first top five and first podium of the season. It's his sixth career podium and eighth top five finish. Gebhardt's sixth place finish is his best finish of his career and his first top 10 finish in a classic race. Christensen earned her second straight podium and her second place finish is the best of the season. She earned her eighth career podium finish. Fleckenstein had her best career finish in eighth place and it's her first top 10 in a slalom race to go with two other top 10s in GS races this season, both ninth place finishes.
QUOTEWORTHY:
RIchard Rokos: "On the Nordic side, I hope this is how it will look for the rest of the season. The women with three experienced skiers and the rookie of the year (Ezra Smith), her performance has been fabulous and makes me feel good for the next three or four years. The guys did well, too, and they obviously hit the wax and the conditioning is where it should be."
"Nora was consistent in slalom this year and she deserves to wear the leader bib. Stef's returning from an injury and gaining good confidence and is slowly returning to her potential. The guys are still going through some tough times. When you say it can't get any worse - which I thought it couldn't earlier this season - there is always an opportunity to do worse. Tomorrow is another day, and we will figure it out."
UP NEXT: The second half of the New Mexico Invitational will take place Saturday with another set of slalom races on the alpine side and the 5K freestyle races on the Nordic side.
NEW MEXICO INVITATIONAL TEAM RESULTS (through 4 of 8 events)—1. Colorado 302; 2. Utah 280.5; 3. Montana State 274; 4. New Mexico 268; 5. Denver 261; 6. Alaska Anchorage 209.5; 7. Alaska Fairbanks 100; 8. Westminster 51; 9. Colorado Mountain 39.
WOMEN'S 7.5K CLASSIC (23 collegiate finishers)—1. Anne Siri Lervik, CU, 29:00.7; 2. Hedda Baangman, CU, 29:13.7; 3. Ezra Smith, CU, 29:26.0; 4. Julia Richter, UU, 29:54.9; 5. Kathleen O'Connell, MSU, 30:20.5; 6. Christina Rolandsen, CU, 30:21.5; 7. Taeler McCrerey, DU, 30:30.5; 8. Leah Lange, UU, 30:31.7; 9. Emma Tarbath, MSU, 30:32.4; 10. Anna Fake, MSU, 31:07.0. Other CU Finishers: 22. Quinn Lehmkuhl, 33:01.3.
MEN'S 7.5K CLASSIC (33 collegiate finishers)—1. Alvar Alev, CU, 25:10.9; 2. Sigurd Roenning, UAA, 25:17.4; 3. Ola Jordheim, UU, 25:46.3; 4. Eli Jensen, MSU, 25:52.5; 5. Bjorn Riksaasen, UU, 25:53.4; 6. Wyatt Gebhardt, CU, 25:54.4; 7. Erik Dengerud, CU, 25:54.6; 8. Logan Kiekman, UU, 26:05.1; 9. Kornelius Grov, UNM, 26:08.0; 10. Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier, UNM, 26:21.6. Other CU Finishers: 11. Sondre Bollum, 26:25.2; 12. Andrew Potyk, 26:34.3; 22. Tyler Terranova, 27:31.7.
MEN'S SLALOM (31 collegiate finishers)—1. Simon Fournier, DU, 1:26.47; 2. Vegard Busengdal, UNM, 1:27.16; 3. Jett Seymour, DU, 1:27.28; 4. Mark Engel, UU, 1:27.30; 5. Tobias Kogler, DU, 1:27.31; 6. Olav Sanderberg, UNM, 1:27.38; 7. Alex Barounos, UNM, 1:27.39; 8. Aage Solheim, MSU, 1:27.45; 9. Zak Vinter, MSU, 1:27.47; 10. Addison Dvoracek, UU, 1:27.53. CU Finishers: 27. Max Luukko, 1:32.62; 31. Joey Young, 1:43.67. Disqualified (first run): Teddy Takki. Did Not Finish (Second Run): Bobby Moyer. Disqualified (Second Run): Max Bervy.
WOMEN'S SLALOM (28 collegiate finishers)—1. Amelia Smart, DU, 1:32.86; 2. Nora Christensen, CU, 1:33.00; 3. Sona Moravcikova, UNM, 1:33.29; 4. Jocelyn McCarthy, MSU, 1:33.42; 5. Stephanie Gartner, MSU, 1:33.44; 6. Eirin Engeset, UU, 1:33.70; 7. Rebecca Fiegl, UNM, 1:33.91; 8. Stef Fleckenstein, CU, 1:34.38; 9. Kaitlyn Vesterstein, UU, 1:34.54; 10. Tuva Norbye, DU, 1:34.64. Other CU Finishers: 17. Andrea Arnold, 1:36.41; 21. Kaitlyn Harsch, 1:36.99. Did Not Finish (First Run): Olivia Gerrard.
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