Colorado University Athletics
Sunday, January 4
Lake Placid, N.Y.
8 AM Women / 11 AM Men
Colorado
vs
10K Classic (I) at Mt. Van Hovenberg
Photo by: Matan Coll, CU Athletics
Baangman Second, Buffs Third At Season Opening RMISA Meet
January 04, 2026 | Skiing
Race Part Of The 2026 US Cross Country Ski National Championships
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Colorado opened the 2026 Nordic season with a strong showing in the women's 10K classic and a challenging day on the men's side Sunday at the season-opening RMISA Invitational, with results taken from the 2026 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.
"We had some good results, and we know where we need to improve," CU head coach Jana Weinberger said. "It wasn't everybody's day today, but it's good to get the season started, and I'm excited to get the full team together later in January."
The Buffaloes' women were led by Tilde Baangman, who finished second overall and anchored CU to a second-place team finish in the women's race. Nina Schamberger followed with a sixth-place finish, while Elena Grissom placed 11th and Selma Nevin finished 17th to round out Colorado's quartet.
Colorado's men faced a tougher test in the 10K classic, placing fifth as a team. Luka Riley was the Buffs' top finisher in 12th place, with Storm Pedersen (19th) and William Bentley (23rd) contributing to the team score. Trey Jones started the race but did not finish.
Through the opening two events of the RMISA Invitational, Colorado sits third overall with 137 points, trailing Utah (202) and Alaska Anchorage (156).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Baangman set the tone early for the Buffs, posting the fastest 5K split among RMISA skiers and staying within striking distance of Utah's Erica Laven throughout the race. Baangman led entering the final lap and stayed within 10 seconds of Laven as the two were the only two races in the field with a sub 15 minute second 5K time.
Schamberger maintained her position inside the top 10 throughout the race to secure sixth place, while Grissom and Nevin skied consistent efforts to close out CU's team scoring. The Buffaloes' women totaled 85 points, second only to Utah's 100.
On the men's side, Pedersen showed early promise, sitting seventh among RMISA skiers at the 5K split, but faded on the second lap to finish 19th. Riley delivered a steady performance to lead the Buffs, while Bentley rounded out the scoring.
Colorado competed shorthanded, as Jakob Moch will return later in the week following international competition, while Johannes Flaaten missed the race due to illness. The women were also without Astri Lunde, racing in Europe, and Sophie Spalding, who sat out due to illness.
UP NEXT
Colorado remains in Lake Placid for three more races at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships, beginning Tuesday with the freestyle sprint races, followed by the 20K freestyle RMISA qualifier on Thursday, and concluding Friday with the classic sprint races, which will close out the RMISA Invitational.
WHAT IT MEANS
Skiing with essentially half the team is a rough way to begin a season, but it also means it's hard to put too much into the results from Sunday's races. Baangman hitting the podium is always good to see, and Schamberger pushing for a top five is solid, as well. Grissom and Riley both pushing for top 10s will strengthen the entire team on both sides, and Pederson pushing for a top 5 at the 5K split shows he will compete to finish high this season, especially having recently returned from Europe. Without Moch or Flaaten on the men's side, and Lunde and Spalding missing on the women's side, the Buffs should compete to win races when at full strength.
TEAM NOTES
WOMEN'S 10K CLASSIC: 1. Erica Laven, Utah, 29:14.4; 2. Tilde Baangman, Colorado, 29:23.9; 3. Rosie Fordham, Alaska Fairbanks, 29:56.7; 4. Neve Gerard, Utah, 30:25.8; 5. Sofia Pedersen, Utah, 30:27.9; 6. Nina Schamberger, Colorado, 30:41.2; 7. Ally Wheeler, Utah, 30:56.8; 8. Marit Flora, Alaska Anchorage, 31:07.6; 9. Constance LaPointe, Alaska Anchorage, 31:10.3; 10. Marlie Molinaro, Alaska Anchorage, 31:17.2.
Other CU Skiers: 11. Elena Grissom, 31:39.9; 17. Selma Nevin, 32:49.5.
MEN'S 10K CLASSIC: 1. Zachary Jayne, Utah, 25:31.2; 2. Mons Melbye, Utah, 25:55.3; 3. Corbin Carpenter, Alaska Anchorage, 26:01.3; 4. Erling Bjoernstad, Alaska Anchorage, 26:02.4; 5. Simon Chappaz, Montana State, 26:05.1; 6. Benjamin Barbier, Montana State, 26:16.7; 7. Walker Hall, Utah, 26:26.5; 8. Philipp Moosmayer, Alaska Fairbanks, 26:43.4; 9. Micah Steinberg, Denver, 26:48.5; 10. Garrett Siever, Alaska Anchorage, 26:52.9.
Other CU Skiers: 12. Luka Riley, 27:03.1; 19. Storm Pedersen, 27:31.0; 23. William Bentley, 28:40.3; Trey Jones, DNF.
"We had some good results, and we know where we need to improve," CU head coach Jana Weinberger said. "It wasn't everybody's day today, but it's good to get the season started, and I'm excited to get the full team together later in January."
The Buffaloes' women were led by Tilde Baangman, who finished second overall and anchored CU to a second-place team finish in the women's race. Nina Schamberger followed with a sixth-place finish, while Elena Grissom placed 11th and Selma Nevin finished 17th to round out Colorado's quartet.
Colorado's men faced a tougher test in the 10K classic, placing fifth as a team. Luka Riley was the Buffs' top finisher in 12th place, with Storm Pedersen (19th) and William Bentley (23rd) contributing to the team score. Trey Jones started the race but did not finish.
Through the opening two events of the RMISA Invitational, Colorado sits third overall with 137 points, trailing Utah (202) and Alaska Anchorage (156).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Baangman set the tone early for the Buffs, posting the fastest 5K split among RMISA skiers and staying within striking distance of Utah's Erica Laven throughout the race. Baangman led entering the final lap and stayed within 10 seconds of Laven as the two were the only two races in the field with a sub 15 minute second 5K time.
Schamberger maintained her position inside the top 10 throughout the race to secure sixth place, while Grissom and Nevin skied consistent efforts to close out CU's team scoring. The Buffaloes' women totaled 85 points, second only to Utah's 100.
On the men's side, Pedersen showed early promise, sitting seventh among RMISA skiers at the 5K split, but faded on the second lap to finish 19th. Riley delivered a steady performance to lead the Buffs, while Bentley rounded out the scoring.
Colorado competed shorthanded, as Jakob Moch will return later in the week following international competition, while Johannes Flaaten missed the race due to illness. The women were also without Astri Lunde, racing in Europe, and Sophie Spalding, who sat out due to illness.
UP NEXT
Colorado remains in Lake Placid for three more races at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships, beginning Tuesday with the freestyle sprint races, followed by the 20K freestyle RMISA qualifier on Thursday, and concluding Friday with the classic sprint races, which will close out the RMISA Invitational.
WHAT IT MEANS
Skiing with essentially half the team is a rough way to begin a season, but it also means it's hard to put too much into the results from Sunday's races. Baangman hitting the podium is always good to see, and Schamberger pushing for a top five is solid, as well. Grissom and Riley both pushing for top 10s will strengthen the entire team on both sides, and Pederson pushing for a top 5 at the 5K split shows he will compete to finish high this season, especially having recently returned from Europe. Without Moch or Flaaten on the men's side, and Lunde and Spalding missing on the women's side, the Buffs should compete to win races when at full strength.
TEAM NOTES
- Colorado's women finished second with 85 points in the women's race, 15 behind Utah's total of 100.
- The Buffs opened the year shorthanded on both the men's and women's sides due to international competition and illness.
- With 52 points in the men's race, the Buffs sit third behind Utah and Alaska Anchorage at the midpoint of the meet.
- Riley led Colorado with a 12th-place finish.
- Pedersen was seventh among RMISA skiers at the 5K split before finishing 19th, and he was still less than 40 seconds outside the top 10.
- Bentley finished 23rd in his first race as a college skier and Jones unfortunately didn't finish the race. His 5K split time likely mean's he would've pushed for a top 20 finish.
- Moch is expected to return later in the week for the 20K freestyle and classic sprint races.
- Baangman secured her 18th career podium as a college skier, seventh at CU and fourth at CU in a classic race. Dating back to late January of last season, she has six second-place finishes in the last nine college races she's competed in.
- Schamberger finished sixth, giving CU two skiers in the top six, in her first race as a Buff. She now has eight career top 10 finishes in RMISA races.
- Grissom's 11th place finish is one off her career best of 10th from the 2023 DU Invitational, also a 10K classic race, and matches her best finish last year which came in the classic sprint race at the UAF Invitational.
- Nevin finished 17th in her CU debut, but the sophomore has now finished all 15 of her races in the top 20 and it was just her fourth time outside the top 10.
WOMEN'S 10K CLASSIC: 1. Erica Laven, Utah, 29:14.4; 2. Tilde Baangman, Colorado, 29:23.9; 3. Rosie Fordham, Alaska Fairbanks, 29:56.7; 4. Neve Gerard, Utah, 30:25.8; 5. Sofia Pedersen, Utah, 30:27.9; 6. Nina Schamberger, Colorado, 30:41.2; 7. Ally Wheeler, Utah, 30:56.8; 8. Marit Flora, Alaska Anchorage, 31:07.6; 9. Constance LaPointe, Alaska Anchorage, 31:10.3; 10. Marlie Molinaro, Alaska Anchorage, 31:17.2.
Other CU Skiers: 11. Elena Grissom, 31:39.9; 17. Selma Nevin, 32:49.5.
MEN'S 10K CLASSIC: 1. Zachary Jayne, Utah, 25:31.2; 2. Mons Melbye, Utah, 25:55.3; 3. Corbin Carpenter, Alaska Anchorage, 26:01.3; 4. Erling Bjoernstad, Alaska Anchorage, 26:02.4; 5. Simon Chappaz, Montana State, 26:05.1; 6. Benjamin Barbier, Montana State, 26:16.7; 7. Walker Hall, Utah, 26:26.5; 8. Philipp Moosmayer, Alaska Fairbanks, 26:43.4; 9. Micah Steinberg, Denver, 26:48.5; 10. Garrett Siever, Alaska Anchorage, 26:52.9.
Other CU Skiers: 12. Luka Riley, 27:03.1; 19. Storm Pedersen, 27:31.0; 23. William Bentley, 28:40.3; Trey Jones, DNF.
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