“The men’s team moved up from the Utah Invite, putting three in the top 15,” MSU Head Nordic Coach Kristina Trygstad-Saari said. “Sawyer Kesselheim raced to an impressive eighth place, just 15-seconds off the podium. Sawyer is an incredibly powerful skier and used this to his advantage on a hilly course. He was skiing in the top three for much of the race, skiing on par with the top guys, so we know he can do it. I'm happy to see the men's team skiing strong as a whole.”
By: Tom Schulz
Montana State's Sawyer Kesselheim and Anika Miller each posted a top 10 finish to guide their respective teams in the opening day of the University of Colorado Ski Invitational, Friday morning in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Kesselheim, a Bozeman product, covered the men's 10-kilometer freestyle event in 25:07.9 to place eighth overall. He was followed in MSU's top three by Forrest Mahlen, 11th, 25:18.7, and Erik Axelsson, 15th, 25:53.8. Noah Anderson finished 25th in 27:05.4.
"The men's team moved up from the Utah Invite, putting three in the top 15," MSU Head Nordic Coach Kristina Trygstad-Saari said. "Sawyer Kesselheim raced to an impressive eighth place, just 15-seconds off the podium. Sawyer is an incredibly powerful skier and used this to his advantage on a hilly course. He was skiing in the top three for much of the race, skiing on par with the top guys, so we know he can do it. I'm happy to see the men's team skiing strong as a whole."
Colorado's Rune Oedegaard won the men's title in 24:19.6. Anika Miller was 10th in Friday's freestyle race.On the women's side, Miller guided MSU with a tenth place showing, covering the 5K race in 15:03.8. Also scoring for the Bobcats were Isabella Smith, 16th, 15:33.8, and Annie Liotta, 20th, 15:51.6.
Rounding out Montana State's contributors were Gretchen Buckholder, 22nd, 15:57.0, Lina Hultin, 23rd, 16:02.8, and Julia Hayes, 25th, 16:12.3.
"Anika Miller finished an impressive tenth in her first college race," Trygstad-Saari said. "Anika is known for her sprinting ability, and she brought her strength and tactics to this course, attacking the uphills and the downhills. We're excited to see what she can do as the season goes on. The women fought hard and look to improve in Saturday's classic race."
Denver's Sylvia Nordskar won the women's crown in 13:52.6.
After two events, CU leads the team standings with 183 points, followed by Utah 159, Alaska Anchorage 140, DU 134, MSU 133, and New Mexico 113.
The Nordic classical races will be held Saturday, while the alpine slalom and giant slalom events will take place Sunday and Monday, respectively.
