Montana State Skiers Notch Best Finish of Season

Michael Mackie placed 8th in the men's slaom on Saturday at the New Mexico Invitational

Photo by: courtesy of Michael Mackie

2/6/2010 11:15:42 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing

The Montana State ski team received top ten finishes from Kaelin Kiesel, Michael Mackie, Ryan Scott and Chris Barber on Saturday afternoon to lift the Bobcats to a fifth place finish at the University of New Mexico Invitational.

By: Tom Schulz

Final New Mexico Invite Results (pdf)

The Montana State ski team received top ten finishes from Kaelin Kiesel, Michael Mackie, Ryan Scott and Chris Barber on Saturday afternoon to lift the Bobcats to a fifth place finish at the University of New Mexico Invitational.

The fifth place team finish was the highest of the season for the Bobcats.

New Mexico won the team title with 961 points, followed by Colorado 801, Denver 785, Utah 713, MSU 694, Nevada 658, Alaska-Anchorage 573 and Wyoming 208.

The MSU women's Nordic team had the best performance for the Bobcats on Saturday recording 96 points.

Junior Kaelin Kiesel paced Montana State, finishing fifth overall in the 10-kilometer freestyle event in a time of 30:51.6. Also scoring for the Bobcats were Mellie Park, 11^th, 31:59.5, and Corrine Malcolm, 12^th, 32:04.1.

Other finishers included Casey Kutz, 13^th, 32:16.6, and Rachelle Kanady, 14^th, 32:20.2.

Nevada's Maria Graefnings won the women's individual race in 29:16.8.

In men's Nordic action, junior Ryan Scott has his second consecutive top 10 finish, placing 9^th overall in the men's freestyle event. The native of Boulder, Colo., covered the course in 26:39.6.

Also recording points for MSU were Bernhard Roenning, 12^th, 26:51.2, and Tyler Reinking, 15^th, 27:17.9.

Other finishers included Drew Scott, 16^th, 27:27.9, and Luke Bromley, 31^st, 29:52.8.

In alpine action, freshman Michael Mackie led MSU for the second straight day, placing 8^th in the men's slalom with a two run total of 1:38.43. He was followed in the top 10 by Chris Barber with a clocking of 1:39.53.

Other Bobcats finishers included Geoff Irwin, 25^th, 1:42.52. Senior Toby LaMar did not finish the second run.

The MSU women's team was paced by Amy Lattimer, who finished 20^th in a time of 1:50.66.

She was followed by Hannah Victory, 22^nd, 1:53.98; Megan Bacharach, 26^th, 1:57.25; and Terra Moran, 32^nd, 2:09.85. Ali Leighton and Carmel McElroy each failed to complete the second run.