Colorado University Athletics
Hartman Wins Gold Medal In Super G Race At WUG
ERZURUM, Turkey - University of Colorado senior Katie Hartman won the gold medal in the Super G race Saturday here at the 25th World University Games, becoming the first CU skier to win gold at the World University Games and just the second CU skier to bring home a medal.
Along with a fourth place finish by sophomore Erika Ghent, the United States and University of Colorado placed two skiers in the top four of the world competition. Both also Colorado natives, Hartman, from Breckenridge, Colo., won the first medal for the United States and Ghent, from Edwards, Colo., posted the next best performance for the United States at these Games thus far.
Hartman won the race in a time of 1:11.26, just ahead of Poland's Karolina Chrapek, who took the silver medal in a time of 1:11.41 while Italy's Chiara Carratu won the bronze in a time of 1:11.55. The race was delayed about 90 minutes due to high wind and adverse conditions.
"I think a lot of it was luck of the draw," Hartman said. "It was a crazy race with a lot of variables and a lot of wind. Some skiers got more wind, others less, but it was still a fun race. It was windy the entire way down the mountain."
Ghent's time was just 2-tenths of a second off the podium and less than a half-second behind Hartman as she finished in 1:11.75. Freshman Kirsten Cooper was 16th overall as the United States placed five skiers in the top 16.
"The people here in Turkey are so excited to have us all here, that makes it so much better," Hartman said. "It is such a proud country. Knowing people are excited to see you and be around you is a pretty cool thing."
Also competing from the University of Colorado were senior Carolina Nordh and junior Sara Hjertman, who are both competing for Sweden. Nordh took 39th in the race and was the second skier from Sweden while Hjertman did not finish the race.
CU coach Richard Rokos has been the team leader and head coach of the U.S. alpine contingent at World University Games since 1995 and Hartman's win is the fourth gold medal Rokos' team's have produced.
Next up at the World University Games will be the men's Super G race, with two Buffs scheduled to compete. Senior Gabriel Rivas is skiing for France and seeded 22nd while junior Taggart Spenst is seeded 31st for the United States. All of the alpine skiers will compete in the super combined, the giant slalom and slalom races later in these Games.
REID CONTINUES ACTION IN ESTONIA
Also abroad from the University of Colorado is sophomore Joanne Reid, who is in Otepaa, Estonia, competing at the 2011 World Junior Cross Country Championships. She placed 36th and was the second American in the 5K freestyle race on Wednesday and is preparing for her second race there, the 10K pursuit, which will take place Sunday, where she is seeded 30th.