Donaldson Paces MSU Nordic Team in Opening Day of RMISA Championships

Wednesday, February 20

Anchorage, AK

All Day

Montana State University

Freestyle (5/10K-I)

Bobcat freshman Ti Donaldson.

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

Donaldson Paces MSU Nordic Team in Opening Day of RMISA Championships

2/20/2019 5:19:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing, Skiing

Donaldson, a product of Fairbanks, Alaska, covered the course in 28:04.8. Also scoring points for MSU were Eli Jensen, 15th, 28:23.7, and Ty Godfrey, 25th, 28:51.5.

By: Tom Schulz

PALMER, Alaska – Montana State freshman Ti Donaldson just missed a top ten performance, placing 11^th overall in the men's 10-kilometer freestyle as the Bobcats opened the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Championships/NCAA West Regional on Wednesday afternoon at the Government Peak Recreation Area.

Donaldson, a product of Fairbanks, Alaska, covered the course in 28:04.8. Also scoring points for MSU were Eli Jensen, 15^th, 28:23.7, and Ty Godfrey, 25^th, 28:51.5.

Senior Karsten Hokanson finished 27^th in a clocking of 29:00.1.

Colorado's Erik Olsvik Dengerud captured the freestyle title in 26:50.9.

The Bobcat women's squad was led by Kathleen O'Connell, who finished 18^th overall covering the 5k course in 16:16.8. She was followed by Emma Tarbath, 20^th, 16:21.9, Anna Fake, 23^rd, 16:36.9, and Kelly Koch, 29^th, 17:26.1.

Utah's Guro Jordheim won the women's crown in 15:05.6.

Utah sits atop the team standings after two events with 170 points. The Utes are followed by Colorado 168, Alaska-Anchorage 137, New Mexico 121, Denver 116, Alaska-Fairbanks 103 and MSU 93.

And, while the RMISA/NCAA West Regional Championships started on Wednesday, the Nordic portion of the University of Alaska Anchorage Invitational wrapped-up.

The Bobcats sit in seventh place as a team with 176 points, behind Utah 331, Denver 315, Colorado 312, New Mexico 246, UAA 241, and UAF 195.

MSU received its best Nordic performances from Anna Fake and Godfrey. Fake had her first top ten finish of the season placing eighth in the classic sprints, while Godfrey paced the men finishing tenth overall.

The UAA Invitational giant slalom will be held on Thursday.

Results: UAA Invitational – Classic Sprints: Women- Anna Fake, 8th, Kelly Koch, 18^th, Kathleen O'Connell, 24^th, Emma Tarbath, 25^th; Men – Ty Godfrey, 10^th, Eli Jensen, 16^th, Karsten Hokanson, 18^th, Ti Donaldson, 23^rd. Women's 10-km Freestyle: Kathleen O'Connell, 20^th, 34:00.2, Emma Tarbath, 22^nd, 34:10.8, Anna Fake, 24^th, 34:30.3, Kelly Koch, 28^th, 36:33.5. Men's 10-km Freestyle: Ty Godfrey, 24^th, 29:19.8, Karsten Hokanson, 29^th, 29:33.7, Eli Jensen, 30^th, 29:34.5, Ti Donaldson, 32^nd, 30:04.7.