Bobcat Skiers Fifth after Opening Day of 65th RMISA/NCAA West Championships

Friday, February 21

Beaver Creek, CO

9 am

Montana State University

RMISA/NCAA West Regional - Giant Slalom

Montana State Nordic coach Grethe Hagensen yells out splits to Bobcat skier Forrest Mahlen in Friday's classical race.

Bobcat Skiers Fifth after Opening Day of 65th RMISA/NCAA West Championships

2/21/2014 4:36:00 PM | Skiing

Montana State had two skiers post top 10 finishes to lift the Bobcats to fifth place after the opening day of the 65th Annual Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association/NCAA West Regional Championships, Friday afternoon hosted by the University of Denver.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State had two skiers post top 10 finishes to lift the Bobcats to fifth place after the opening day of the 65^th Annual Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association/NCAA West Regional Championships, Friday afternoon hosted by the University of Denver.

MSU's top finish was posted by senior Jessica Yeaton, who placed eighth in the women's five-kilometer classic race in a time of 15:22.8, en route to recording 23 points for the Bobcats. Also scoring for MSU were Annie Liotta, 11^th, 15:34.3; and Kate Backstrum, 14^th, 15:40.2.

Other Bobcats finishing were Isabella Smith, 17^th, 15:44.0; and Johanna Malle, 27^th, 17:30.5.

"The girls had the best classic performance since the MSU Invite," MSU head Nordic coach Grethe Hagensen said. "Bella (Smith) fell on a downhill and lost some places."

All America performer David Norris returned to form on the men's side, notching a tenth place showing in the men's 10-kilometer event. The Fairbanks, Alaska native posted a time of 25:51.3 for 21 points. Also registering points for MSU were Patrick Madden, 13^th, 26:03.5; and Forrest Mahlen, 17^th, 26:38.9.

Also contributing were Marshall Opel, 20^th, 27:14.3; Sawyer Kesselheim, 22nd, 27:26.9; and Sam Dougherty, 28^th, 29:28.6.

"David got tenth and was the top American and the best MSU finisher," Hagensen said. "We are very pleased with our classic results. We are going in the right direction and looking forward to the mass start skate."

DU's Makayla Cappel won the women's title in 14:30.2, while Colorado's Rune Oedegaard captured the men's classic crown in 24:10.9.

Kelly McBroom paced the Bobcat alpine contingent finishing 11^th overall in the women's giant slalom with a two-run total of 2:01.68. She was followed in MSU's top three by Stephanie Irwin, 15^th, 2:02.68; and Sarah Freeman, 18^th2:03.16.

Also racing for Montana State were Marissa Riopelle, 21^st, Emily Danza, 24^th, and Tenaya Driller, 27^th.

The Bobcat men's downhill team was led by Sam Monsen, who finished 22^nd in 2:00.42. Also scoring were Ryan McConnell, 27^th, 2:01.42; and David Neuhauser, 28^th, 2:01.48. David Owsley placed 30^th overall, after a blistering first run.

"David had a great first run," MSU Alpine head coach Kevin Francis said. "And it's just too bad he had trouble on his second, because he was in position to have the best college result of his life. He's skiing really well in the giant slalom, right now."

Utah's Chloe Fausa won the women's giant slalom with a two-run total of 1:58.77, while CU's Andreas Haug took the men's title in 1:57.51.

After four events, CU sits atop the team standings with 337 points. The Buffaloes are followed by Utah 334, New Mexico 298.5, Denver 291.5, MSU 213, Alaska-Anchorage 199, and Colorado Mountain 36.

The slalom and Nordic freestyle races will be held on Saturday.