Bobcat Nordies Lift MSU Ski Team to Fifth at Colorado Invite

Friday, January 31

Steamboat Springs, CO

9 am

Montana State University

CU Invite - Classical - 5/10K

Isabella Smith, shown here competing at the NCAA Championships last winter, paced MSU with a fifth place finish in the freestyle at the CU Invite over the weekend.

Bobcat Nordies Lift MSU Ski Team to Fifth at Colorado Invite

2/3/2014 12:38:00 PM | Skiing

The Montana State women’s Nordic team scored a weekend high 79 points in the 15K freestyle event at the University of Colorado Invitational over the weekend to lift the Bobcats to a fifth place team showing.

By: Tom Schulz

CU INVITE RESULTS (PDF)

The Montana State women's Nordic team scored a weekend high 79 points in the 15K freestyle event at the University of Colorado Invitational over the weekend to lift the Bobcats to a fifth place team showing.

Isabella Smith had a career-best fifth place finish in the race, covering the course in 48:44.5, while teammate Kate Backstrum was seconds behind placing sixth in 48:50.8. Sophomore Annie Liotta rounded out MSU's scoring finishing eighth in 48:55.9. In all, the Bobcats' top three racked-up 79 points, and along with the University of Denver, were the only teams placing three skiers in the top ten.

Also contributing for MSU were Jessica Yeaton, 15^th, and Julia Hayes, 17^th.

On the men's side, sophomore Sawyer Kesselheim finished tenth overall, covering the 20K race in 54:04.8. He was followed by Patrick Madden, 12^th, 54:21.4; and Marshall Opel, 18^th, 55:29.4.

"It was very impressive to see the team rebound from an average performance on Friday," MSU Nordic coach Grethe Hagensen said. "To have three women in the top ten, and the guys improving immensely, it's a good indicator for their ability to compete at a high level."

On Friday, the Bobcat Nordic squad combined for 94 points in the classic race, before responding with a 135 point effort in the freestyle.

The Bobcat alpine contingent was led in the giant slalom on Sunday by senior Kelly McBroom, who finished sixth overall with a two-run total of 2:10.74. Also producing for MSU were Sarah Freeman, 17^th, and Marissa Riopelle, 18^th.

The MSU men were paced by newcomer David Neuhauser, who placed tenth overall in a two-run clocking of 2:00.61. He was followed by Sam Monsen, 25^th, and David Owsley 26^th.

DU won the team title with 648 points. The Pioneers were followed by New Mexico 591, Utah 579, CU 555, MSU 415, Alaska-Anchorage 398, Westminster 248, Wyoming 76 and Colorado Mountain College 39.