Day Two- NCAA Skiing Recap: DU Takes the Lead Behind Buchar's GS Run
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing
Zikova, the fourth seeded GS skier coming out of the NCAA West Regional meet, surprised herself Thursday. "It went way better than what I hoped for," the senior from Prague, Czech Republic, said. "I usually don't win GS, so this was definitely a great GS to take. I'm really excited."
In spite of the tremendous effort, Colorado Coach Richard Rokos was only mildly surprised. "I would say yeah," the long-time CU coach smiled, "but I know that it is within her ability."
While Colorado enjoyed the individual heroics, other squads made strong moves up the team standings. Vermont moved up six spots into sixth on the strength of placing three skiers in the top six of the women's GS, while Buchar propelled Denver to the top of the standings.
Buchar captured Denver's second straight GS title, matching Adam Cole's feat a year ago. Buchar came into the meet with the yellow bib, signifying his status as the West Region's top GS qualifier. "I followed my game plan well, obviously," an elated Buchar said. "I was a little bit off in my second run. I don't know how I did it. It doesn't matter. I'm so excited, I'm still pinching myself."
Denver coach Andy Leroy said his team's strong GS performance - Francisco Ghedina finished fourth in the men's race, while Jenny Lathrop finished fourth and Molly Ryan tied for 10th in the women's - could boost the team in Friday's Nordic freestyle races. "I think our Nordic squad will feed off this energy tomorrow," he said. "It's great to be on the top. Our Nordic is strong end to end, also. Last year we were right there, and this year we've put ourselves in a place to be on top."
Men's Notes: John Buchar won Denver's second straight giant slalom champion, and third overall, after Erik Roland in 1994 and Adam Cole in '07... Buchar finished 12th in the GS last year, when he also earned 2nd Team All-America honors by finishing 7th in the slalom... DU's Francesco Ghedina finished fourth in the GS after grabbing third a year ago...Vermont finished 2-3, with first run leader Greg Hardy finishing second and Erik Gilbert finishing third... with the men's GS win; Denver grabbed the lead in the team standings, just ahead of Middlebury and Colorado.
Women's Notes: Lucie Zikova's first giant slalom win of the season came in her last try... it was Zikova's fifth win overall this year, with all the others coming in the slalom... after failing to land a single skier in the top 10 of the women's GS last year, three Vermont skiers grabbed top 10 finishes in 2008 - Lyndee Janowiak at 3rd, Kara Crow 5th, and Jilyne McDonald 6th... Crow was the top Catamount in the GS last year, finishing 11th.
In spite of the tremendous effort, Colorado Coach Richard Rokos was only mildly surprised. "I would say yeah," the long-time CU coach smiled, "but I know that it is within her ability."
While Colorado enjoyed the individual heroics, other squads made strong moves up the team standings. Vermont moved up six spots into sixth on the strength of placing three skiers in the top six of the women's GS, while Buchar propelled Denver to the top of the standings.
Buchar captured Denver's second straight GS title, matching Adam Cole's feat a year ago. Buchar came into the meet with the yellow bib, signifying his status as the West Region's top GS qualifier. "I followed my game plan well, obviously," an elated Buchar said. "I was a little bit off in my second run. I don't know how I did it. It doesn't matter. I'm so excited, I'm still pinching myself."
Denver coach Andy Leroy said his team's strong GS performance - Francisco Ghedina finished fourth in the men's race, while Jenny Lathrop finished fourth and Molly Ryan tied for 10th in the women's - could boost the team in Friday's Nordic freestyle races. "I think our Nordic squad will feed off this energy tomorrow," he said. "It's great to be on the top. Our Nordic is strong end to end, also. Last year we were right there, and this year we've put ourselves in a place to be on top."
Men's Notes: John Buchar won Denver's second straight giant slalom champion, and third overall, after Erik Roland in 1994 and Adam Cole in '07... Buchar finished 12th in the GS last year, when he also earned 2nd Team All-America honors by finishing 7th in the slalom... DU's Francesco Ghedina finished fourth in the GS after grabbing third a year ago...Vermont finished 2-3, with first run leader Greg Hardy finishing second and Erik Gilbert finishing third... with the men's GS win; Denver grabbed the lead in the team standings, just ahead of Middlebury and Colorado.
Women's Notes: Lucie Zikova's first giant slalom win of the season came in her last try... it was Zikova's fifth win overall this year, with all the others coming in the slalom... after failing to land a single skier in the top 10 of the women's GS last year, three Vermont skiers grabbed top 10 finishes in 2008 - Lyndee Janowiak at 3rd, Kara Crow 5th, and Jilyne McDonald 6th... Crow was the top Catamount in the GS last year, finishing 11th.
Thursday, August 27
Monday, August 24
Monday, August 24
Wednesday, June 10
