Wednesday, February 25
Anchorage, AK
Montana State University
at
UAA - Nordic Classical
Photo by: Curtis Snyder
Bobcat Skiers Strong at Seawolf Invite Despite Adverse Snow Conditions
2/25/2015 6:30:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing, Skiing
“Garret had a solid first run and just out-skied everyone on the second run for his first, top five finish,” MSU Alpine Coach Kevin Francis said. “David had a ripping first run and moved back a couple with some mistakes on the second run. Michael Radford fought through with some good skiing to score needed points. It was a great day for our men’s team.”
The Montana State men's alpine ski team recorded its best showing of the season in the slalom, while the Bobcat Nordic men's contingent had three racers in the top 10 to guide MSU at the Seawolf Invitational hosted by Alaska-Anchorage, Wednesday afternoon.
Montana State freshman Garret Driller continued his outstanding rookie campaign finishing fifth in the slalom. The product of Tahoe City, California, recorded a two-run total of 1:37.0 to garner 29 team points. Sophomore David Neuhauser was right behind Driller in sixth place with a clocking of 1:37.2.
"Garret had a solid first run and just out-skied everyone on the second run for his first, top five finish," MSU Alpine Coach Kevin Francis said. "David had a ripping first run and moved back a couple with some mistakes on the second run. Michael Radford fought through with some good skiing to score needed points. It was a great day for our men's team."
Rounding out MSU's scorers was Radford, who placed 20th overall in a time of 1:42.1. Also finishing for the Bobcats was David Owsley, 22nd, 1:43.8. Andrew Kircher did not finish his second run.
On the women's side, Stephanie Irwin paced just two Bobcat racers to complete the event. The senior from Calgary, Alberta placed 12th overall with a two-run clocking of 1:46.7. Also scoring for MSU was Kari Hole, who placed 19th in 1:50.5.
"Stephanie showed good perseverance," Francis said. "She had a winning run going on the second run, but fell near the bottom and still moved up one spot. Kari won the second run to move up a bunch, but was not close enough on the first to make it into the top ten.
"Overall, we have stepped it up a level, so I'm excited to see what the rest of the week brings," Francis said.
Benedicte Lyche did not finish her first run, while Tenaya Driller and Elizabeth Koprucki were disqualified in their first runs.
Skiing on man-made snow at the Nordic venue, the Bobcat men received three top 10 showings. Forrest Mahlen placed eighth covering the 7.5-kilometer classical event in 21:27.3. Newcomers Erik Axelsson and Martin Muan tied for tenth place in 21:38.1 as MSU collected 64 points in the discipline.
"We're very excited as we reached one of our big season goals of putting three guys in the top 10," MSU Nordic Coach Kristina Trygstad-Saari said. "It was a huge day for the team. Forrest paced the 7.5km course well, picking up speed on each of the three laps. He repeated his eighth place finish from Monday, proving that he's a contender in both disciplines.
"Erik Axelsson and Martin Muan both skied aggressively, tying for tenth," Trygstad-Saari said. "Erik started out fast, skiing in sixth for the first lap, and Martin started out more conservatively, but they both kept up their energy until the finish. I'm really happy to see Martin coming around. He was a biathlete in Norway, so we weren't sure what to expect for the classic races. He showed us he can ski with the top guys in this discipline as well as in skating."
Cambria McDermott led the women's Nordic squad finishing 12th overall covering the 5k course in 16:57.1. She was followed by Annie Liotta, 14th, 16:59.6, Lina Hultin, 17th, 17:13.9, Isabella Smith, 22nd, 17:48.9, and Anika Miller, 24th, 18:08.8.
With just the giant slalom races left at the Seawolf Invite, Utah sits atop the team standings with 466.5 points. The Utes are followed by Colorado 438.5, New Mexico 430, Denver 378, Alaska-Anchorage 369, MSU 341, Westminster 121, and Colorado Mountain College 22.
Montana State freshman Garret Driller continued his outstanding rookie campaign finishing fifth in the slalom. The product of Tahoe City, California, recorded a two-run total of 1:37.0 to garner 29 team points. Sophomore David Neuhauser was right behind Driller in sixth place with a clocking of 1:37.2.
"Garret had a solid first run and just out-skied everyone on the second run for his first, top five finish," MSU Alpine Coach Kevin Francis said. "David had a ripping first run and moved back a couple with some mistakes on the second run. Michael Radford fought through with some good skiing to score needed points. It was a great day for our men's team."
Rounding out MSU's scorers was Radford, who placed 20th overall in a time of 1:42.1. Also finishing for the Bobcats was David Owsley, 22nd, 1:43.8. Andrew Kircher did not finish his second run.
On the women's side, Stephanie Irwin paced just two Bobcat racers to complete the event. The senior from Calgary, Alberta placed 12th overall with a two-run clocking of 1:46.7. Also scoring for MSU was Kari Hole, who placed 19th in 1:50.5.
"Stephanie showed good perseverance," Francis said. "She had a winning run going on the second run, but fell near the bottom and still moved up one spot. Kari won the second run to move up a bunch, but was not close enough on the first to make it into the top ten.
"Overall, we have stepped it up a level, so I'm excited to see what the rest of the week brings," Francis said.
Benedicte Lyche did not finish her first run, while Tenaya Driller and Elizabeth Koprucki were disqualified in their first runs.
Skiing on man-made snow at the Nordic venue, the Bobcat men received three top 10 showings. Forrest Mahlen placed eighth covering the 7.5-kilometer classical event in 21:27.3. Newcomers Erik Axelsson and Martin Muan tied for tenth place in 21:38.1 as MSU collected 64 points in the discipline.
"We're very excited as we reached one of our big season goals of putting three guys in the top 10," MSU Nordic Coach Kristina Trygstad-Saari said. "It was a huge day for the team. Forrest paced the 7.5km course well, picking up speed on each of the three laps. He repeated his eighth place finish from Monday, proving that he's a contender in both disciplines.
"Erik Axelsson and Martin Muan both skied aggressively, tying for tenth," Trygstad-Saari said. "Erik started out fast, skiing in sixth for the first lap, and Martin started out more conservatively, but they both kept up their energy until the finish. I'm really happy to see Martin coming around. He was a biathlete in Norway, so we weren't sure what to expect for the classic races. He showed us he can ski with the top guys in this discipline as well as in skating."
Cambria McDermott led the women's Nordic squad finishing 12th overall covering the 5k course in 16:57.1. She was followed by Annie Liotta, 14th, 16:59.6, Lina Hultin, 17th, 17:13.9, Isabella Smith, 22nd, 17:48.9, and Anika Miller, 24th, 18:08.8.
With just the giant slalom races left at the Seawolf Invite, Utah sits atop the team standings with 466.5 points. The Utes are followed by Colorado 438.5, New Mexico 430, Denver 378, Alaska-Anchorage 369, MSU 341, Westminster 121, and Colorado Mountain College 22.
Players Mentioned
Alpine
/ Men's Skiing
Alpine
/ Women's Skiing
Alpine
/ Women's Skiing
Alpine
/ Men's Skiing
Alpine
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Alpine
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's Skiing
Nordic
/ Men's Skiing
Alpine
/ Men's Skiing
Alpine
/ Men's Skiing
Alpine
/ Men's Skiing
Nordic
/ Women's SkiingWednesday, June 10
Thursday, September 27
Thursday, September 27
Thursday, September 27
