Colorado University Athletics
Sunday, February 8
Frisco, Colo.
9 AM Men / 10 AM Women
Colorado
vs
7.5K Freestyle (I) at Frisco Nordic Center
Photo by: Ashton Scott
Baangman’s Win Propels Buffs To DU Invitational Title
February 08, 2026 | Skiing
Lunde and Pedersen Both Take Second Place As Buffs Dominate Team Standings
FRISCO, Colo. – The Colorado Buffaloes ski team secured victory in the first full meet of the 2026 season Sunday, winning the Denver Invitational behind a dominant performance from the women's team and a podium finish from the men at the Frisco Nordic Center.
The Buffalo women claimed the race win with 98 points as Tilde Baangman and Astri Lunde went 1-2 for the second straight day. Selma Nevin finished 10th as the third team scorer, while Elena Grissom (14th) and Sophie Spalding (16th) gave Colorado five skiers in the top 16. Nina Schamberger did not race.
"I'm really happy with my race today," Baangman said. "I tried to open up a little easier, but I was getting split times that I was in the lead by quite a bit, so I tried to go out a little easier on the final lap and push. But I'm happy with it, it was a good race."
On the men's side, Storm Pedersen led the way with a second-place finish, while Johannes Flaaten added a 10th-place result and Luka Riley placed 19th. Short-handed due to Olympic and international commitments, the Buffs finished third in the men's race with 75 points.
Denver won the men's race and outscored Colorado 94-75, trimming the Buffs' lead from 67 points to 48 after seven of eight events. But Colorado's women countered by winning their race, allowing the Buffs to secure the overall meet title by 76 points, 714-638, over host Denver. Utah finished third with 499.5 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The men opened the day in interval-start format with Colorado seeded later in the order. Pedersen skied a controlled opening loop before posting the fastest second lap in the field and the third-fastest final lap to move onto the podium.
Flaaten hovered in the 12th–14th range through the first two laps before closing strong with the fifth-fastest final lap to move into the top 10. Riley skied consistently throughout to secure the final scoring position.
In the women's race, Baangman took control immediately, posting the fastest time on each of the three laps. Lunde matched her pace throughout with the second-fastest split on every lap as the Buffs pulled away from the field.
Nevin was in podium position after the second lap before slipping back to 10th, while Grissom also ran in the top 10 midway through the race. Spalding closed strong, cutting 7.1 seconds off her final lap to move up to 16th.
UP NEXT
The Nordic teams return to action Feb. 13-14 at the CU Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs.
TEAM NOTES
Men's 7.5K Freestyle: 1. Yannick Zellweger, Denver, 18:39.4; 2. Storm Pedersen, Colorado, 18:49.6; 3. Simon Chappaz, Montana State, 18:55.5; 4. Eemil Juntunen, Denver, 19:06.2; 5. Gavin Galyardt, Montana State, 19:09.2; 6. Gabriele Rigaudo, Alaska Fairbanks, 19:11.8; 7. Philipp Moosmayer, Alaska Fairbanks, 19:13.3; 8. Krystof Zatloukal, Denver, 19:20.4; 9. Sondre Oestervold, Denver, 19:21.8; 10. Johannes Flaaten, Colorado, 19:22.9. Other CU: 19. Luka Riley, 19:49.4.
Women's 7.5K Freestyle: 1. Tilde Baangman, Colorado, 20:56.4; 2. Astri Lunde, Colorado, 21:31.0; 3. Sofia Pedersen, Utah, 21:51.1; 4. Eve-Ondine Duchaufour, Denver, 22:07.9; 5. Marit Flora, Alaska Anchorage, 22:22.5; 6. Witta Walcher, Utah, 22:29.1; 7. Felicie Chappaz, Montana State, 22:32.9; 8. Ally Wheeler, Utah, 22:34.6; 9. Katey Houser, Montana State, 22:38.4; 10. Selma Nevin, Colorado, 22:40.6. Other CU: 14. Elena Grissom, 23:13.1; 16. Sophie Spalding, 23:20.4. Did Not Start: Nina Schamberger
The Buffalo women claimed the race win with 98 points as Tilde Baangman and Astri Lunde went 1-2 for the second straight day. Selma Nevin finished 10th as the third team scorer, while Elena Grissom (14th) and Sophie Spalding (16th) gave Colorado five skiers in the top 16. Nina Schamberger did not race.
"I'm really happy with my race today," Baangman said. "I tried to open up a little easier, but I was getting split times that I was in the lead by quite a bit, so I tried to go out a little easier on the final lap and push. But I'm happy with it, it was a good race."
On the men's side, Storm Pedersen led the way with a second-place finish, while Johannes Flaaten added a 10th-place result and Luka Riley placed 19th. Short-handed due to Olympic and international commitments, the Buffs finished third in the men's race with 75 points.
Denver won the men's race and outscored Colorado 94-75, trimming the Buffs' lead from 67 points to 48 after seven of eight events. But Colorado's women countered by winning their race, allowing the Buffs to secure the overall meet title by 76 points, 714-638, over host Denver. Utah finished third with 499.5 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The men opened the day in interval-start format with Colorado seeded later in the order. Pedersen skied a controlled opening loop before posting the fastest second lap in the field and the third-fastest final lap to move onto the podium.
Flaaten hovered in the 12th–14th range through the first two laps before closing strong with the fifth-fastest final lap to move into the top 10. Riley skied consistently throughout to secure the final scoring position.
In the women's race, Baangman took control immediately, posting the fastest time on each of the three laps. Lunde matched her pace throughout with the second-fastest split on every lap as the Buffs pulled away from the field.
Nevin was in podium position after the second lap before slipping back to 10th, while Grissom also ran in the top 10 midway through the race. Spalding closed strong, cutting 7.1 seconds off her final lap to move up to 16th.
UP NEXT
The Nordic teams return to action Feb. 13-14 at the CU Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs.
TEAM NOTES
- Colorado scored 75 points in the men's race, with 37 from Storm Pedersen, 22 from Johannes Flaaten and 16 from Luka Riley.
- Denver won the men's race with 94 points, with Montana State second at 81.
- Denver trimmed Colorado's lead to 48 points after seven of eight races, 616-568.
- Colorado secured the meet victory with a 98-point performance in the women's race, led by Baangman (40), Lunde (37) and Nevin (21).
- Utah was second in the women's race with 84 points and Denver third with 70.
- Colorado won the Denver Invitational by 76 points, 714-638 over Denver, with Utah third (499.5).
- The Buffs led all teams in women's scoring (377) and total Nordic scoring (381).
- Colorado also won the final day with 173 combined points, nine ahead of Denver (164).
- Storm Pedersen finished second for his second straight podium, third overall, and fifth straight top-five finish. He now has two freestyle podiums this season
- Johannes Flaaten placed 10th for his fourth straight top-10 finish across the last two meets and now has 19 career top 10s.
- Luka Riley finished 19th for his 10th straight top-20 result dating back to last season and now owns 21 career top 20 finishes.
- Tilde Baangman swept the meet with victories in both races, giving her three wins this season and five podiums in seven starts. At Colorado she now has three wins and 11 podiums in 16 finishes.
- Astri Lunde finished second for the third straight race and recorded her career-best freestyle finish. She now has six podiums in 14 career races.
- Selma Nevin placed 10th for her third top-10 finish this season and 14th of her career, all within the top 20.
- Elena Grissom finished 14th for her seventh straight top-20 result to open the season, six of those 14th or better.
- Sophie Spalding finished 16th, her best result of the season and fourth top-20 finish in four starts.
Men's 7.5K Freestyle: 1. Yannick Zellweger, Denver, 18:39.4; 2. Storm Pedersen, Colorado, 18:49.6; 3. Simon Chappaz, Montana State, 18:55.5; 4. Eemil Juntunen, Denver, 19:06.2; 5. Gavin Galyardt, Montana State, 19:09.2; 6. Gabriele Rigaudo, Alaska Fairbanks, 19:11.8; 7. Philipp Moosmayer, Alaska Fairbanks, 19:13.3; 8. Krystof Zatloukal, Denver, 19:20.4; 9. Sondre Oestervold, Denver, 19:21.8; 10. Johannes Flaaten, Colorado, 19:22.9. Other CU: 19. Luka Riley, 19:49.4.
Women's 7.5K Freestyle: 1. Tilde Baangman, Colorado, 20:56.4; 2. Astri Lunde, Colorado, 21:31.0; 3. Sofia Pedersen, Utah, 21:51.1; 4. Eve-Ondine Duchaufour, Denver, 22:07.9; 5. Marit Flora, Alaska Anchorage, 22:22.5; 6. Witta Walcher, Utah, 22:29.1; 7. Felicie Chappaz, Montana State, 22:32.9; 8. Ally Wheeler, Utah, 22:34.6; 9. Katey Houser, Montana State, 22:38.4; 10. Selma Nevin, Colorado, 22:40.6. Other CU: 14. Elena Grissom, 23:13.1; 16. Sophie Spalding, 23:20.4. Did Not Start: Nina Schamberger
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