The Men's 20K Classic Podium at the NCAA Championships
Photo by: Neil Hetherington
Norris Earns First Podium Finish in Program History
3/9/2012 6:14:00 PM | Skiing
MSU Skiing Jumps to Fifth at Day Three of Ski Championships
Montana State produced another banner day at Bohart Ranch at the 2012 NCAA Skiing Championships on Thursday, March 9. Led, by David Norris and the rest of the MSU nordic skiers, the Bobcats jumped one spot with 405.5 points, to fifth place after three days of competition. (Results)
Vermont embarks upon their second day at the top of the leaderboard with 614 total points. Utah is in second with 522, followed by Dartmouth with 510 and Colorado in fourth with 495.
In just the nordic competition, the Montana State men placed second on Thursday, with 94 points, behind Utah's 96. Overall, the Utes have amassed 201 men's nordic points, while MSU is behind by just one point with 200. This marks the first time in history for Montana State to have this high a finish. They were first in the nation after Wednesday's competition. The men and women combined were fourth after the first day of competition. The women's team was sixth after their first day.
The day began with the Men's 20K Classic and proved to be one of two tremendously exciting races on the day. Norris, a transfer from Fairbanks, Alaska, held the lead for a good portion of the race. He and Miles Havlick of Utah were neck-and-neck in the final stretch of the race until Havlick made a huge push to the finish line to take the championship title.
Norris finished with a time of 56:25.8 and was edged out by less a second to Havlick, who clocked in at 56:24.3. Norris' performance garners him his second All-American award, his first as a first-teamer, after placing seventh in Wednesday's 10K.
MSU had all three competitors among the top-20, helping make the push to fifth place. Michael Schallinger, coming off a fourth-place finish in the 10K, finished 14th with a time of 58:42.9. Rounding out the Bobcat men was Tyler Reinking in 19th, in 59:21.7.
Despite warm conditions, the Women's 15K was truly a thrilling competition. Coming down to a photo-finish, Amy Glen of Vermont was named the champion with a time of 53:32.1, followed by Sophie Caldwell in 53:32.2.
"This is just sensational," said head coach Grethe Hagensen. "He really tried to hammer it out in the last five kilometers against Havlick, but Miles was able to hang on when it came down to the final sprint."
Ase Carlson held steady with the lead pack for much of the race and eventually went on to a 14th place finish with a time of 55:46.0, as the highest placer for the Bobcats.
Casey Kutz came in 22nd in 57:15.7 and Jessica Yeaton crossed in 37th in 1:01.34.0.
"We were hoping to have Ase in the top ten in her final year of college skiing," said Hagensen. "Also being a senior, this is still a strong finish for her. This is a tough sport and sometimes conditions can really come into play. These girls tried hard and I'm extremely happy with them overall. This was an phenomenal week for us."
Saturday, March 10, marks the closing day of the 2012 Championships and the second day of alpine racing. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the women will take their first run in the Slalom, followed by the men's opening run at 10:30. Second runs begin at 11:45 a.m. with the women and 1 p.m. for the men.
A live webcast will be available at www.ncaa.com/liveschedule
Vermont embarks upon their second day at the top of the leaderboard with 614 total points. Utah is in second with 522, followed by Dartmouth with 510 and Colorado in fourth with 495.
In just the nordic competition, the Montana State men placed second on Thursday, with 94 points, behind Utah's 96. Overall, the Utes have amassed 201 men's nordic points, while MSU is behind by just one point with 200. This marks the first time in history for Montana State to have this high a finish. They were first in the nation after Wednesday's competition. The men and women combined were fourth after the first day of competition. The women's team was sixth after their first day.
The day began with the Men's 20K Classic and proved to be one of two tremendously exciting races on the day. Norris, a transfer from Fairbanks, Alaska, held the lead for a good portion of the race. He and Miles Havlick of Utah were neck-and-neck in the final stretch of the race until Havlick made a huge push to the finish line to take the championship title.
Norris finished with a time of 56:25.8 and was edged out by less a second to Havlick, who clocked in at 56:24.3. Norris' performance garners him his second All-American award, his first as a first-teamer, after placing seventh in Wednesday's 10K.
MSU had all three competitors among the top-20, helping make the push to fifth place. Michael Schallinger, coming off a fourth-place finish in the 10K, finished 14th with a time of 58:42.9. Rounding out the Bobcat men was Tyler Reinking in 19th, in 59:21.7.
Despite warm conditions, the Women's 15K was truly a thrilling competition. Coming down to a photo-finish, Amy Glen of Vermont was named the champion with a time of 53:32.1, followed by Sophie Caldwell in 53:32.2.
"This is just sensational," said head coach Grethe Hagensen. "He really tried to hammer it out in the last five kilometers against Havlick, but Miles was able to hang on when it came down to the final sprint."
Ase Carlson held steady with the lead pack for much of the race and eventually went on to a 14th place finish with a time of 55:46.0, as the highest placer for the Bobcats.
Casey Kutz came in 22nd in 57:15.7 and Jessica Yeaton crossed in 37th in 1:01.34.0.
"We were hoping to have Ase in the top ten in her final year of college skiing," said Hagensen. "Also being a senior, this is still a strong finish for her. This is a tough sport and sometimes conditions can really come into play. These girls tried hard and I'm extremely happy with them overall. This was an phenomenal week for us."
Saturday, March 10, marks the closing day of the 2012 Championships and the second day of alpine racing. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the women will take their first run in the Slalom, followed by the men's opening run at 10:30. Second runs begin at 11:45 a.m. with the women and 1 p.m. for the men.
A live webcast will be available at www.ncaa.com/liveschedule
Wednesday, June 10
Thursday, November 12
Saturday, March 10
Thursday, March 08
